Eleven Arkansas-breds vie for lion's share of six-figure allowance purse

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – It’s a good time to own a horse bred in Arkansas.

Oaklawn Park will close out its race week Sunday with a full field of Arkansas-bred fillies and mares chasing an allowance purse of $106,000.

It’s record money for a conditioned allowance for Arkansas-breds, and a group of 11 runners has signed on for the 1 1/16-mile race. The size of the field is a testament to the growth of the breeding program in Arkansas.

“We love the opportunity to run for good purses,” said Linda Robbins, owner and operator of one of the leading stud farms in Arkansas. “More and more people are interested. I have more people interested in breeding.”

Zanshoes brings the best recent Beyer Speed Figures into the feature Sunday. She put up a 70 last out while running a close fourth in a $30,000 starter allowance against open company April 3 at Oaklawn. One start prior, Zanshoes won a conditioned allowance for Arkansas-breds, with a career-high Beyer of 72. She moves to two turns Sunday and has fared well at the 1 1/16-mile distance in the past. Kelsi Harr has the mount for Pleasant Hills Training Center and trainer Robert Cline.

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

Too Pretty won an Arkansas-bred allowance over Zanshoes at this distance March 11 at Oaklawn. She’s been flattered since, with both Zanshoes, who was third, and Turnstone, who was fourth, returning to win races in their next starts. Terry Thompson has the mount on Too Pretty for trainer Dan Peitz.

Too Pretty’s recent allowance win also came over Hissy Missy, who finished second and will see action Sunday. Hissy Missy has raced once since facing Too Pretty, and on the cutback to six furlongs finished second in an Arkansas-bred allowance for fillies and mares on March 26. Quincy Hamilton has the mount for trainer Tammy Hornsby.

Others making up a competitive field include Florida Bird, who is back at two turns for the first time this meet. Her last win came at 1 1/16 miles. Flatoutandfoxy is another contender off a fourth-place finish in a $30,000 starter-allowance route for open company April 3 at Oaklawn.

◗ The card Sunday includes a pair of starter-allowance races. The fourth is a $40,000 starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles. Trainer Steve Asmussen and Ricardo Santana Jr., who have a number of leading contenders on the card, will team with possible favorite Fra Mauro.

The fifth race is a $12,500 starter allowance for 4-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles. The diverse field is led by Honoring Major and includes Meistermind, a half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird; Kurilov, who was a Group 1 winner in Chile; and Exulting, a past winner of the Oaklawn Mile.