Cinco Charlie, Bayerd back sprinting for Gazebo
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Cinco Charlie and Bayerd have accomplished more than the average young horse as stakes winners at both one and two turns. But their best lick might be sprinting, and as such, both have landed in the $100,000 Gazebo on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.
The Gazebo, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds, drew a diverse cast. The field of seven includes Hebbronville, who was second in the Grade 2 Futurity last fall at Belmont Park; A M Milky Way, a stakes winner this winter at Sam Houston; Bourbon Cowboy, an invader from Fair Grounds who has placed in two stakes; and Subtle Indian, a winner of both of his career starts at this Oaklawn meet.
Cinco Charlie is the most accomplished member of the field as the winner of five stakes, including last year’s Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs. He will be cutting back to one turn after finishing second last out in the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park.
“He ran well,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “I think he’s much more valuable at shorter distances.”
Gazebo, race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
Cinco Charlie (Last 3 Beyers: 75-83-94)
◗ He is a four-time stakes winner at one turn. His other stakes win came in the $104,000 Riley Allison at a mile Jan. 24 at Sunland. Cinco Charlie was an 8 1/2-length winner in an effort that sent him to the Mine That Bird Derby, the track’s prep for the Sunland Derby.
◗ Cinco Charlie set the pace in the 1 1/16-mile Mine That Bird and was caught in the late stages by Where’s the Moon, who will run back Sunday in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby.
◗ Cinco Charlie might get a tracking trip on the turnback, behind the rail-drawn Subtle Indian and A M Milky Way.
◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount on Cinco Charlie, who will break from post 2.
Bayerd (Last 3 Beyers: 64-86-84)
◗ He is a winner of two stakes, with one at six furlongs in the $75,000 Kip Deville at Remington Park in September and the other at two turns in the $255,000 Springboard Mile at that track in December.
◗ Asmussen trains Bayerd for Clark Brewster and has given the mount to Ramon Vazquez.