Far Right looms as horse to beat in Thursday optional claimer

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Far Right spent a good deal of time in the Oaklawn Park winner’s circle last meet following both the Smarty Jones Stakes and the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes. He could return to his old hangout Thursday, as he looks like the horse to beat in the featured eighth race.

Far Right goes in an optional $50,000 claiming route for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles. He will be making his second start of the year, having missed by a half-length in his seasonal debut Jan. 28. It was the first start since July for Far Right.

“I was happy to have him running,” said Ron Moquett, the leading trainer at Oaklawn. “When you give a horse a break, you always want them to come back as good as they were when they left. I was happy to see him run.”

Far Right’s competition Thursday includes Texas Air, the winner of last year’s Grade 3 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park, and For Greater Glory, who was graded stakes-placed last year in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

KEY CONTENDERS

Far Right, by Notional

Last 3 Beyers: 85-78-83

◗ He put in a spirited run at this level Jan. 28, closing from 13 lengths back to be the runner-up to Mal Guapo.

“Last race, it was such a speed-favoring day,” Moquett said. “No matter what, he got beat by a nice horse.”

◗ Far Right’s start came at a mile in a race that ended at the sixteenth pole. He will run to the traditional wire this time while picking up more ground.

“He won the Southwest at the mile and a sixteenth,” Moquett said. “That was his second biggest [Beyer Speed Figure] behind the Arkansas Derby. After the last race, he’s ready to go a mile and a sixteenth.”

◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for owners Harry Rosenblum and Bob LaPenta. Moquett said he is hoping for the right setup for the pace-dependent Far Right.

“You live by the sword, and you die by the sword,” said Moquett.

Texas Air, by Texas City

Last 3 Beyers: 83-75-79

◗ He shipped to Sam Houston for the $50,000 Star of Texas for statebreds Jan. 23. He ran second by 1 1/2 lengths in his first start since November, and trainer Allen Milligan said last week that he feels Texas Air seems to be less keen on shipping with age.

◗ Texas Air shows some strong works over the Oaklawn surface, including a five-eighths work in 1:01.40 on Feb. 13.