Commandperformance might have edge in stakes-worthy allowance

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Commandperformance might have some tactical and practical advantages in his favor when he meets Southern California shipper Heywoods Beach and a razor-sharp Frosted Departure in Friday’s eighth race at Oaklawn Park.

The $100,000 starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up will be run over 1 3/16 miles. A field of nine is set to start, including Time for Trouble and Dash Attack, who finished a respective second and third to Next in the Birdstone in July at Saratoga.

Commandperformance is picking up added distance off a fifth-place finish to Frosted Departure in an allowance over 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 15 at Oaklawn. Commandperformance was favored for the race, off a win at 1 1/8 miles in a two-other-than allowance Nov. 11 at Churchill Downs.

“I think the mile and three-sixteenths allows us to be a little closer without having to ask him,” said Joe Sharp, who trains Commandperformance.

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Sharp said another variable Commandperformance might have in his favor now is more familiarity with Oaklawn. He will be making his second start in Hot Springs on Friday.

“Hopefully, he just needed one over the track last time to get the cobwebs off,” he said.

The forecast for Friday might also benefit Commandperformance. There a strong chance of rain, for what might end up being a second straight day of precipitation.

“It looks like it’s supposed to be pretty wet, according to the weather forecast, and his off track form is solid enough,” said Sharp.

Temperatures are expected to be in the low 50s on Friday and drop to 22 degrees overnight. It will warm back up to 50 degrees for Saturday, but again drop into the 20s overnight. The high for Sunday is 36, according to AccuWeather.

Francisco Arrieta has the mount on Commandperformance from post 2 for Carl Moore and Brad Grady. Commandperformance ran second in the Grade 1 Champagne when he was 2.

Heywoods Beach is multiple Grade 3 winner, and has had success over marathon distances. He is making his Oaklawn debut and trainer John Sadler has given the mount to Ramon Vazquez, who rode the horse in Southern California. Vazquez is wintering at Oaklawn.

Frosted Departure was a more than seven-length winner in his last start, when he wired the field after breaking from post 10. The Beyer Speed Figure of 99 that he earned ranks as the co-highest Beyer of the current meet. Frosted Departure shares the distinction with Skelly, who earned a 99 Beyer for a Dec. 30 win in an allowance sprint. Frosted Departure, who earlier in his career was a sprint stakes winner at Oaklawn, will break from post 7. Julien Leparoux has the mount for trainer Kenny McPeek.

McPeek also saddles Dash Attack, a past winner of the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn. Time for Trouble was a winner in the slop last out at Fair Grounds.

Strava figures to be quite prominent on the move from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 3/16 miles, while others who could contribute to pace include Santos Dumont and Frosted Departure.

Accidental Hero won the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby in September at Hastings.

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