Edgeway outruns Frank's Rockette in Carousel

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Edgeway became a stakes winner in the $250,000 Carousel on Saturday when she held off even-money favorite Frank’s Rockette by three-quarters of a length.

It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Casual.

The Carousel was a six-furlong race for fillies and mares. The track was fast after being upgraded from “good” two races earlier. The Carousel was the sixth race and the first of four stakes on a 13-race card that featured the Arkansas Derby.

Edgeway ($4.60) was prominent throughout, racing with the leaders through an opening quarter in 22.54 seconds. She took the lead after a half-mile in 46.12 and finished well, covering the distance in 1:10.13. Edgeway received a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

:: Bet horse racing on DRF Bets. Double Your First Deposit Up to $250. Join Now.

Joel Rosario was aboard for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler.

“That was a really nice field,” Sadler said in a post-race teleconference. “That’s a big win for her. She’s been stakes-placed several times. It was good for her to win a stakes. She’s a nice, quality filly.”

Sadler said plans are to be determined for Edgeway, who could head to Churchill Downs or return to her base of Santa Anita. The daughter of Competitive Edge has now won 4 of 6 starts and has earned $307,200.

Frank’s Rockette was favored as a multiple Grade 2 winner coming off a victory in the American Beauty in January at Oaklawn. The front-runner had one horse beat early, and bid in the lane.

“She got bumped pretty hard at the break,” jockey Florent Geroux told publicity at Oaklawn.

Monomoy Girl highweighted

The weights for the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap were released by Oaklawn racing officials Saturday and two-time champion Monomoy Girl has been made the race's 124-pound highweight. The champion Swiss Skydiver is weighted next at 122. The Apple Blossom will be run over 1 1/16 miles next Saturday as part of the final day of the Racing Festival of the South.

Oaklawn stakes coordinator Bart Lang had a working list of four to five starters for Friday's race. Entries will be taken Tuesday.

Monomoy Girl galloped over a wet track Saturday morning at Oaklawn, while Swiss Skydiver is being pointed to the race, trainer Ken McPeek told Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee.

Express Train is weighted at 122 pounds for the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap on the same card next Saturday.

Lang had a working list of nine to 10 probables for the Oaklawn Handicap as of Friday.