Cougar Ridge aims to extend winning streak in Essex Handicap
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Cougar Ridge will be attempting to win his fifth straight race Saturday when he meets Southern California shipper Midnight Hawk and horse for course Carve in the $100,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile race for older horses anchors a strong 10-race card and figures to produce starters for next month’s Grade 3, $300,000 Razorback Handicap.
The program Saturday includes an optional $62,500 claiming sprint led by Grade 3 winner Hebbronville and multiple stakes winner Bayerd, while Get Jets, the winner of the Sleepy Hollow Stakes last fall at Belmont Park, starts his 3-year-old season in a first-level allowance route that drew 12.
Cougar Ridge began his streak in August, winning the $75,000 Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Handicap on turf at Remington Park. He proceeded to win the $100,600 Remington Green in September before accounting for an off-the-turf allowance race at Keeneland in October and the $250,000 Delta Mile in November at Delta Downs.
“It’s rare for a horse to run really good on the grass and the dirt,” said Randy Morse, who trains Cougar Ridge. “He runs on the mud. Whatever we want him to do, he seems to do it.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Cougar Ridge, by Johannesburg
Last 3 Beyers: 96-90-91
◗ The Essex will be Cougar Ridge’s first start since the Delta Mile, where he held off a surging Departing, a multiple Grade 2 winner and earner of $1.8 million, by three-quarters of a length Nov. 21. The effort yielded a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 96.
“To outrun a horse like Departing, that kind of speaks for itself,” said Morse. “After the race, we just freshened him up and waited for here.”
◗ The Delta Mile has become a key race. The third-place finisher, Rise Up, returned in his next start to capture an optional $30,000 claiming race at Delta with a 93 Beyer, and the seventh-place finisher, F J Uncle Vic, came back to win the $50,000 Star of Texas at Sam Houston.
◗ Cougar Ridge will be making his first start at Oaklawn.
“He’s been working fantastic,” said Morse, who is winning at a 27 percent clip at this meet.
◗ Corey Nakatani has the mount for owner Richard Bahde.
Midnight Hawk, by Midnight Lute
Last 3 Beyers: 82-105-86
◗ He popped a career-high Beyer when last seen at Oaklawn for his runner-up finish in the Razorback. He was edged by a neck by Race Day.
◗ Jon Court has the mount for trainer Bob Baffert.