Eyeing Clover holds off Gun Pilot in Hot Springs for first stakes triumph
?q=100)
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Eyeing Clover became a stakes winner Saturday when he fought off favorite Gun Pilot for a length victory in the $200,000 Hot Springs at Oaklawn Park.
It was another 6 1/2 lengths back in third to Cactus.
The one-mile race, which ended at the sixteenth pole, was for 3-year-olds. It was part of the Arkansas Derby Day card held under sunny conditions with a large crowd in the infield.
Eyeing Clover ($5.60) raced along the rail, just off Rocking Rocket and Cactus. Rocking Rocket, who broke out from the widest post, rushed up to take the lead into the first turn and ran an opening quarter in 23.01 seconds and a half-mile in 46.85. Eyeing Clover advanced on the final turn, took the lead through six furlongs in 1:12.07, and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:39.45 and getting an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.
“The first turn, I decided to pull back off those two horses – we were really in tight quarters,” said Florent Geroux, who rode Eyeing Clover. “After that he settled, ran a good race. I was right near the horse on the lead, a nice spot saving ground, and when I asked him down the lane, he fought very hard.”
Brad Cox trains Eyeing Clover for Ten Strike Racing, a partnership based in the region that filled up the infield winner’s circle enclosure at Oaklawn.
Eyeing Clover is a son of Lookin at Lucky who was removing blinkers Saturday. He entered the Hot Springs off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct. Eyeing Clover was favored in that race off back-to-back sprint wins, in a maiden special weight at Oaklawn and an entry-level allowance at Fair Grounds.
Eyeing Clover has now won 3 of 4 starts for earnings of $230,050. The Triple Crown nominee is a half-brother to Heavenhasmynikki, a Grade 3 winner of more than $400,000.
The field for the Hot Springs was scratched down to five horses with the defections of Frosted Departure and Carmel Road.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.