Far Right returns to familiar ground at Oaklawn
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Far Right will bring a good deal of name recognition into Thursday’s featured ninth race at Oaklawn Park. He won the track’s Smarty Jones Stakes and Grade 3 Southwest Stakes last season before running second to an eventual Triple Crown winner in the Arkansas Derby.
“I wished that American Pharoah would have waited a year to come along, but we have to appreciate the fact that horse racing got a champion,” said Ron Moquett, who trains Far Right for Harry Rosenblum and Robert LaPenta. “Far Right did everything we asked him to do. He ran his best, and he made us proud in Arkansas.”
Far Right is launching his 4-year-old season in an optional $50,000 claiming race at a mile. The stout field of 12 includes the stakes winners Ain’t Got Time, Hillbilly Royalty, Bump Start, and Stealcase as well as the stakes-placed runners Poseidon’s Way, Doctor Peter, Paid Admission, and Almost Famous.
“It looks like a Grade 3,” said Moquett.
KEY CONTENDERS
Far Right, by Notional (Last 3 Beyers: 78-83-82)
◗ Far Right is making his first start since July, when he rallied for sixth in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby. Following the race, the decision was made to freshen the horse.
“We just felt it was the best thing to do,” Moquett said. “He’d had a hard campaign at Oaklawn. He was a 3-year-old that was still growing. The owners agreed to give him a little break and give him time to let him grow up. I think he’s matured quite a bit. He’s thicker and rounding into the adult form.”
◗ Far Right shows a series of local works for his return.
“I have him as fit as I can get him without a race, and hopefully that’s good enough to run a good race here,” Moquett said.
◗ Far Right, to be ridden by Didiel Osorio, could get a decent pace setup behind Ain’t Got Time, Hillbilly Royalty, and Bump Start.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Far Right. Trainer Ron Moquett is 62-4-7-7 with a $0.70 ROI over the past five years with all runners returning from layoffs of 150 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Bold Stephen, by Stephen Got Even (Last 3 Beyers: 79-88-81)
◗ He must overcome post 12 in the one-mile race that will end at the sixteenth pole, but he is appealing for his consistent form and competitive series of Beyer Speed Figures.
◗ Alex Birzer has the mount for Iron Oaks Farm and trainer Gene Jacquot.
Stealcase, by Lawyer Ron (Last 3 Beyers: 78-80-83)
◗ He exits the same race as Bold Stephen, finishing fourth in the optional $35,000 claimer Dec. 4 at Remington Park, a neck behind third-place finisher Bold Stephen.
◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for Clark Brewster and trainer Steve Asmussen.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Mal Guapo. Trainer Brad Cox is 45-14-6-8 with a $2.76 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes at Oaklawn Park following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Bump Start. Trainer Kellyn Gorder is 21-7-2-3 with a $4.60 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes at Oaklawn Park following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan