Combatant ready for a fight in Oaklawn Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Horses from Southern California have been a constant in the entries this meet, and the trend continues Saturday with Combatant shipping in for the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap.

Combatant became a millionaire winning the Santa Anita Handicap in his last start March 7. He leads an outstanding cast of 14 for the Oaklawn Handicap, a 1 1/8-mile race that closes out the meet alongside two divisions of the Arkansas Derby.

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First post for the 14-race card, poised to lift Oaklawn to an all-time handle record, is noon Central. The program will be conducted before a silent grandstand on an afternoon that would typically attract some 60,000 patrons – fans absent due to coronavirus restrictions.

Combatant’s rivals include fellow Grade 1 winner Improbable and Grade 2 winners Mr Freeze, By My Standards, Tax, Bravazo, and Tacitus. Tacitus is the 121-pound highweight, and he is back on Lasix after finishing fifth without the anti-bleeding medication in the $20 million Saudi Cup.

Oaklawn Handicap (Race 12)

Combatant, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers: 101-95-86

◗ He’s weighted at 120 pounds off his neck victory in the Big Cap. The start was his second for Hronis Racing, which purchased Combatant at auction in November.

“The first race we ran in, the San Pasqual, he was a really good third,” trainer John Sadler said. “He finished up strong that day. I was really encouraged for the Big Cap.”

◗ Combatant stalked the pace in the Santa Anita Handicap and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

“The blinkers put him in the race a little bit,” Sadler said of equipment, added in February. “And he’s just a horse who seems to be liking California.”

◗ Combatant has won at Oaklawn, where the Southern California-based Sadler has brought a division for the first time. The barn had gone 14 for 64 through Wednesday to rank fifth in the standings, highest among trainers who have barns here and in California.

“It’s been an excellent meet, and everybody has been so gracious there at Oaklawn, the Cella family and Pat Pope,” Sadler said. “It’s certainly been a good experience, especially in trying times.”

◗ Sadler said he looks to return with a string next season, with most of the runners he has here now headed to Churchill. But, he said, the first order of business is the Oaklawn Handicap.

“We’re going in with a really good horse in Combatant, and want to try to close it out strong the last day of the meet,” Sadler said.

◗ Joel Rosario has the mount from post 7.

Mr Freeze, by To Honor and Serve

Last 3 Beyers: 107-100-99

◗ He invades from Gulfstream, where he ran second in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup in January and won the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile on Feb. 29. He rolled by three lengths, while covering the one-turn mile in 1:34.80.

“He just blew them away,” trainer Dale Romans said. “I think he had a breakthrough race in the Pegasus. When he came back in the Gulfstream Park Mile he was extremely impressive. He ran fast early and finished fast.”

◗ Mr Freeze is moving back to 1 1/8 miles, the distance of his win in the West Virginia Derby.

“Everybody calls him a miler, but he’s made $935,000 going a mile and an eighth,” Romans said.

◗ Joe Talamo has the mount from post 4.

Improbable, by City Zip

Last 3 Beyers: 99-93-96

◗ He starts from post 14, one race after drawing the same gate for the Oaklawn Mile.

“Mr. 14,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He either gets the one hole or the 14.”

◗ Improbable ran a bang-up race in the Oaklawn Mile, finishing second by three-quarters of a length April 11. The out was his first in four months, and the Southern California-based runner has since remained at Oaklawn.

“This is a tough race, a really tough race,” Baffert said. “He’s doing well. He’s come back and worked well there.”

◗ Martin Garcia has the mount on Improbable.

By My Standards, by Goldencents

Last 3 Beyers: 98-91-86

◗ He comes off his second Grade 2 win at 1 1/8 miles in the New Orleans Classic on March 21 at Fair Grounds.

“He loves the distance,” trainer Bret Calhoun said.

◗ By My Standards has made one other start this year, taking an allowance by six lengths in February.

“I think when horses transition from 3 to 4 you’re always [anxious] to see how they develop and move forward,” Calhoun said. “His allowance, I really liked the way he did it and it gave me a little confidence.”

◗ By My Standards parlayed the effort into a career-best Beyer in the New Orleans Classic.

“There’s a lot more bulk to him now,” Calhoun said. “He’s grown up physically, is toting a lot more muscle. He’s just a stronger physical.”

◗ Gabe Saez has the mount from post 12.