Deep sprint field should produce stakes runners later in the meet

The future is looking bright for Oaklawn Park’s filly and mare sprint stakes next year based on the strength of the ninth race Sunday.

The money allowance for 3-year-old fillies over six furlongs drew a deep cast of runners that includes stakes winners Asternia, Candy Aisle, Haulin Ice, and Tripolina.

“This race, it could be a stakes race for sure,” said Chris Hartman, who trains both Tripolina and another entrant, Tanya Showers. “There’s stakes-quality fillies in there up and down.

“It’s Oaklawn. They don’t give nothing away at Oaklawn. You’ve got to earn everything here. It’s tough racing.”

Mink’s Palace, a multiple allowance winner coming off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland, and Blue Squall, who is multiple stakes-placed at Oaklawn, add further depth to the field that also includes Lady Moscato, a full sister to Grade 1 winner Salty.

Tanya Showers defeated some of these in her last start, when she won a second-level allowance over 5 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs. She earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 84, which is the co-highest last-race number in Sunday’s field of 10.

“She ran a gangbuster race in her last start,” Hartman said. “She ran maybe her best race. I gave her a little freshening, and she came back really good. If everything goes well, she’s going to have a good year this year, it appears.”

Tanya Showers, who has placed in two stakes at Oaklawn, will start from post 4 under Rafael Bejarano.

Tripolina will be making her first start for Flatland Racing Stable and Hartman when she breaks from post 2. Ramon Vazquez has the mount on the daughter of Constitution, who will be making her dirt debut after racing primarily on the synthetic surface at Woodbine.

“We’re just trying to get familiar with her and everything,” Hartman said. “She worked good over the track [at Oaklawn] and she appears to look to me like she handles the dirt. We’re going to find out.

“I sort of think she’ll like the mile here. But we’ve got to get a starting point, so we’re going to go here, see how it turns out.”

Tripolina last raced Nov. 9 when third in the Grade 3 Bessarabian over seven furlongs on Tapeta at Woodbine. For the effort, she earned a career-high Beyer of 84.

Haulin Ice won the Azalea Stakes in July at Gulfstream Park and has since run seventh in a pair of Grade 2 races at seven furlongs, the Charles Town Oaks around two turns and most recently the Raven Run on Oct. 19 at Keeneland. The Arkansas-bred began her career at Oaklawn, where she is 3 for 5.

“We’re sending her back to her home town,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Tuesday. “Hopefully, she’ll be happy to get back home.

“She’s coming off two probably subpar efforts, but we’re getting back to six furlongs. I think it’s her best distance and also hope she’s a horse for course. Sometimes, those horses get back to where they need to be and they turn around.”

Haulin Ice owns the field’s best career Beyer, a 91. Francisco Arrieta has the mount from post 9.

Candy Aisle is cutting back to one turn, where she is a three-time stakes winner. Asternia won last season’s Purple Martin Stakes at this distance at Oaklawn.

Merasol Sugar was an allowance winner last out at Ellis Park with a Beyer of 84. Three horses she defeated returned to win allowances in their next start.

:: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!

Girls Weekend was a sharp allowance winner at Churchill in her last start.

◗ Racing secretary Pat Pope said Oaklawn again plans to put on a full card of 2-year-old races on it’s final race date of the year next Sunday.

Oaklawn is offering multiple maiden races, allowances, a starter allowance, and the $175,000 Year’s End, which is a one-mile stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.