Chanteline adds to Asmussen's Spring Fever tally

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Chanteline gave Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his sixth win in the Spring Fever at Oaklawn on Saturday when she darted to a 1 1/4-length victory over Marquee Miss. It was another neck back in third to Swing and Sway.

The Spring Fever, which had a purse of $125,000, shared a card with the $100,000 Nodouble won by J.E.’s Handmedown.

Chanteline ($10.40) was with the pace from the start, attending fractions of 22.03 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.56 for the half-mile. She went on to cover the 5 1/2 furlongs on a track rated fast in 1:04.29, and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88.

“We got a proper trip today,” said winning rider Ricardo Santana Jr. “She set all the pace. Turning for home she picked it up and was much the best today.”

The win was one of four on the card for Santana and Asmussen. Of the four, one came via a disqualification when Tapsolute was placed first in the ninth race following the disqualification of Chris and Dave.

Chanteline races for Ten Broeck Farm. She is a daughter of Majesticperfection and with the win she improved her career record to six wins from 21 starts for earnings of $393,972.

The other Spring Fever winners trained by Asmussen have been Secret Sip (2001); Souris (2005); More Moonlight (2006); Classify (2008); and Aireofdistinction (2014).

J.E.’s Handmedown fought off all comers in the stretch to win the first stakes race of his career in the $100,000 Nodouble. Glacken’s Ghost finished three-quarters of a length back in second, while it was another half-length in third to 2-5 favorite Five O One.

The Nodouble was a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Arkansas.

J.E.’s Handmedown ($37.20) was always prominent, pressing the leaders through an opening quarter in 22.36 seconds. The eventual winner took over through a half-mile in 45.85 seconds and in the stretch kept the competition at bay, covering the distance on a fast track in 1:10.47.

Ramon Vazquez was aboard for trainer Elueterio Altamirano.

J.E.’s Handmedown is a son of Storm and a Half who races for his breeder, David Whited. He earned $60,000 for his win Saturday, to improve his career record to 2 wins from 5 starts for earnings of $116,000.

Last year, J.E.’s Handmedown as second in the $100,000 Rainbow at Oaklawn won by Five O One. J.E.’s Handmedown entered the Nodouble off a runner-up finish in a first-level allowance for Arkansas-breds on Feb. 11.

► Exclamation Point ($3.20), a 3-year-old half-brother to champion Classic Empire, won his two-turn debut in the fifth race, an optional $62,500 claimer at a mile. Fernando De La Cruz was aboard for trainer Brad Cox. Exclamation Point is now 2 for 2, with both of his starts coming at Oaklawn. He is nominated to the Triple Crown.

► Attendance on track Saturday was an estimated 20,000.