Equine Jack Van Berg figures in allowance feature
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jack Van Berg, a 3-year-old colt named for the late Hall of Fame trainer, could go favored in Friday’s sixth race at Oaklawn Park. The optional $62,500 claiming race for 3-year-olds carries first-level allowance conditions. It will be run at six furlongs.
Jack Van Berg contested the pace and finished second at the same level and distance in his last start March 10. He was cutting back from a sixth-place finish going 1 1/16 miles here. Jermaine Bridgmohan has the mount for Muddy Waters Stables and trainer Tom Van Berg.
B P Rocket will get good support off a runner-up finish against similar Feb. 24 at Oaklawn. The third-place finisher from the race, Market King, returned to run third in the second division of the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn. Alex Canchari has the mount for owner Frank Fletcher and trainer Will Van Meter.
Others making up the eight-horse field include stakes winner Cajun Firecracker and the undefeated One Man Party.
Sonny Smack will get good support in the eighth race, an entry-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up at a mile. He is part of a field of 12.
Dates set for Oaklawn 2020
Oaklawn introduced a new dates structure for 2019 and the same calendar will be in place for 2020.
The Arkansas Racing Commission has granted the track a 57-date meet for 2020, beginning on Jan. 24 and ending on May 2.
The current 57-day meet opened two weeks later than usual, on Jan. 25, and is running three weeks later, to May 4.
Oaklawn will race Friday through Sunday for its first two weeks in 2020, then move to a Thursday-through-Saturday schedule. There will be a special Monday program on Presidents Day, Feb. 17, and the track will not have a live program on Easter, April 12.
