Clean break may be all Prosecution needs

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Brad Cox is hoping for a better start for Prosecution in Friday’s eighth race at Oaklawn than the horse had in his most recent outing.

“To say the least,” Cox quipped.

Prosecution missed the break in a seven-furlong allowance Nov. 26 after he popped the gate open before the start, then rocked back as the horses broke. He ended up closing from last for sixth.

“He pretty much lost everything at the start,” Cox said. “The last race is kind of a throw-out.”

Prosecution will move to two turns Friday for a first-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up at a mile, a race that will end at the sixteenth pole. He faces seven others, including Starter, who dominated a starter allowance last out at Oaklawn, and Street Strategy, a promising young horse a year ago at this meet who makes his first start since March.

Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Prosecution (Last 3 Beyers: 69-81-76)

He was the even-money favorite in a Churchill Downs allowance last time after missing by a neck in a $16,000 starter allowance at Keeneland. Overall last year, he went 4 for 11 with five runner-up finishes.

Prosecution will be making his first two-turn start since July.

“He’ll handle it,” said Cox, who trains the horse for Flurry Racing Stable and Starsky Weast. “He went a mile and an eighth at Saratoga and was real unlucky not to win that day. He’s won at Churchill going a mile and a sixteenth, and he won at a mile and a sixteenth at Oaklawn.”

Shaun Bridgmohan has the mount from post 8.

“I wish we had drawn a little closer to the inside, but it is what it is,” said Cox. “He should be close, and he’s fresh, too. He hasn’t raced in a while. He should be close.”

Prosecution is a 6-year-old by A.P. Indy. His dam, Awesome Humor, was a Grade 1 winner who earned $848,950.

“He’s probably one of the best-bred horses on the grounds,” said Cox.

Street Strategy (Last 3 Beyers: 72-83-72)

It’s the one-year anniversary of his impressive maiden special weight win, as he dominated by 6 1/2 lengths in a one-mile race Jan. 30 at Oaklawn. Calvin Borel was aboard and again has the mount for Iron Horse Racing and trainer Randy Morse.

Street Strategy is making his first start since running sixth in the Grade 2 Rebel last March. Hoppertunity won the race, with Tapiture second and Ride On Curlin third in the 1 1/16-mile stakes at Oaklawn.