Domain's Rap has earned shot at Oaklawn Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Domain’s Rap might be the best $10,000 owner Danny Caldwell has ever spent in racing. The horse punched his ticket to Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap by running a big second to Upstart in last month’s Grade 3, $350,000 Razorback Handicap.

“I have had some good claims, but horses like him don’t come around very often,” said Caldwell.

Caldwell, who will win his third consecutive owners’ title at Oaklawn on Saturday, has had stakes success with such claims as Fifth Date and Dancin Lil. But Domain’s Rap sits atop the stable’s charts. He’s won four of five starts since being taken by Caldwell, with his lone defeat coming in the Razorback on March 19.

It was not the first time Domain’s Rap had fired a big race in a stakes. Back in June 2014, he was third in the Black Tie Affair at Arlington Park.

“He ran third to The Pizza Man,” said Caldwell. “That’s the reason I claimed him. I know this horse has got some back class.”

Caldwell, who employs Federico Villafranco as a private trainer, took Domain’s Rap last November at Remington Park. The horse ran back in December, winning by 8 3/4 lengths for a $15,000 tag. Domain’s Rap then came to Oaklawn and won a $7,500 starter allowance Jan. 16, a $40,000 claiming race Feb. 4, and an optional $62,500 claiming race Feb. 21, defeating a group that included Grade 1 winner Noble Bird.

“He’s a nice-looking horse, very nice conformation-wise,” Caldwell said. “As far as mentally, the horse knows his job, loves his job. We’re very impressed with the way he’s taken to the track here.”

Domain’s Rap will be part of an eight-horse field for the Oaklawn Handicap, a 1 1/8-mile race that was drawn Wednesday. He will break from post 7 when he takes on a group that includes Upstart and Grade 1 winners Melatonin and Effinex.

“Obviously, it’s asking a lot of the horse to move up to that type of class,” Caldwell said. “I just feel like we should give him a chance, kind of the way we were in the Razorback. He ran second to a really nice horse that chased American Pharoah all last year. We’re still giving it a shot.”

Caldwell has been a force at Remington Park, where he has won eight Thoroughbred meet titles and two Quarter Horse titles. Caldwell also is a two-time title winner at Prairie Meadows.

Caldwell, a former high school teacher and coach, is a resident of Oklahoma. After the Oaklawn meet wraps on Saturday, his stable will move on to Prairie Meadows. He also is racing at Will Rogers Downs.