Cogburn, Cairama seek to continue Asmussen's domination of Bachelor Stakes
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Cogburn and Cairama will attempt to carry on a stable tradition Saturday in the $150,000 Bachelor at Oaklawn Park.
They will be looking to bring home an eighth win in the race for their trainer, Hall of Fame horseman Steve Asmussen. The barn’s tradition in the Bachelor, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, dates back to 1996 when Valid Expectations won to give Asmussen his second career stakes victory at Oaklawn.
Asmussen will be looking for his 98th stakes win at the Arkansas track on Saturday, when Cogburn and Cairama meet stakes winners Unified Report, Ain’t Life Grand, Mowins, and Whelen Springs in the six-horse Bachelor.
Cogburn could go favored on the strength of a first-level allowance he won by four lengths March 25 at Oaklawn. He set the pace en route to covering six furlongs in 1:09.44, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 89 that he earned is the best career number in the Bachelor. The score came in his first start since a September maiden special weight win at Churchill Downs.
“I loved his comeback race,” Asmussen said. “He was very sharp in victory. This is a good spot back for him. We’ve had success in the race in the past, and Cogburn and Cairama complement each other in style.”
Cairama came from a stalking position to win a first-level allowance by seven lengths April 10 at Oaklawn. He covered six furlongs in 1:10.10. Cairama, who was cutting back from two turns, earned a career-high Beyer of 88.
“He’s much more effective in the one-turn races,” Asmussen said.
Cogburn will break from post 5 under Ricardo Santana Jr., while Cairama will start from post 3 under Isaac Castillo.
Both horses are looking for their first stakes wins, while Unified Report is chasing his third on Saturday. He was the Louisiana-bred champion male 2-year-old of 2021 for owner Valene Farms after winning the Louisiana Legacy at Delta Downs and Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile at Fair Grounds. Unified Report enters the Bachelor off a 10th-place finish in the Lafayette on April 8 at Keeneland.
“The track got a little bit wet for him in the Lafayette, and I don’t think he’s a fan of wet tracks,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “It was a little bit slippery, maybe. He came out it good, worked good.
“He won an open allowance at Fair Grounds before the Lafayette. He’s a quality colt. We want to give him a shot.”
Francisco Arrieta has the mount from the rail.
Ain’t Life Grand is launching his 3-year-old season. He emerged as the top 2-year-old out of the Prairie Meadows meet, with wins in the Iowa Cradle and Richard Radke Memorial. Elvin Gonzalez has the mount for trainer Kelly Von Hemel.
Mowins won back-to-back Indiana-bred stakes last fall, and Whelen Springs comes off a win over Arkansas-breds in the Rainbow.
The Bachelor closes the Racing Festival of the South that featured major stakes throughout April. Oaklawn will have fan appreciation giveaways Saturday. The meet runs through May 8.