Cutacorner, scratched from Smarty Jones, in Thursday feature

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Cutacorner, who was scratched from the $150,000 Smarty Jones on Monday at Oaklawn, will start as one of the top contenders in the featured eighth race here Thursday. He is part of a field of 11 3-year-olds for a $62,500 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles that includes the Churchill Downs maiden winners Unexplained and American Dubai.

Cutacorner has run fourth in two stakes, most recently the $250,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park. He was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by the victorious Discreetness, who was scheduled to run back in the Smarty Jones. The Springboard Mile produced a next-out winner Saturday at Oaklawn in Giant Trick. Jack Van Berg trains both Giant Trick and Cutacorner, who will be ridden by Quincy Hamilton.

Unexplained seems like the one to beat following his runner-up finish to the well-regarded Conquest Big E in an optional $75,000 claiming race at Churchill Downs. That start came at a one-turn-mile trip, and Unexplained’s pedigree suggests that he will appreciate the move to two turns. He is a son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper. Ramon Vazquez has the mount for trainer Chris Richard.

American Dubai was a debut winner in his last start Nov. 13, and since that race, three horses he defeated have returned to win maiden races at Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Churchill Downs. Calvin Borel has the mount for trainer Rodney Richards.

Sarah Sis to American Beauty

Grade 2 stakes winner Sarah Sis is scheduled to launch her season Saturday at Oaklawn in the $100,000 American Beauty, according to trainer Ingrid Mason. The six-furlong stakes is for fillies and mares. Sarah Sis last raced Oct. 17, winning the Raven Run at Keeneland. Last year at Oaklawn, she won the Grade 3 Honeybee.

Mason on Friday won the $100,000 Dixie Belle with Marquee Miss, who she said is a candidate for the $100,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn. The one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies is Feb. 6.