Fresh horses boost Hartman to top of standings

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Chris Hartman is having a meet to remember at Oaklawn, where he is tied atop the standings with Steve Asmussen. Both had won 18 races through Tuesday. Hartman, who has sent out 84 starters, has amassed $552,091 in stable earnings.

“We’re having a good meet, the best one to date,” said Hartman, who sent a string to Oaklawn about six years ago, then came in with a full division in 2013.

Hartman won three races on a nine-race card March 15, then came back and had a double on the program March 20. Other highlights of his meet have included allowance wins from 4-year-olds Russellin and Paganol and a 24-1 victory from a claim, Quality Council.

“I think one thing that’s made a difference was we sort of had fresh horses,” Hartman said. “We had fresh horses coming into this meet. We had a quiet Remington, and that was sort of by design. We didn’t overrun them at Remington.”

Hartman also said the depth of his barn is better than ever, and as such, he will branch out after Oaklawn and race at Churchill Downs.

“I’m training better horses now than I’ve ever trained,” Hartman said. “This is going to be our first year going to Churchill.”

Hartman has 32 horses at Oaklawn and another 12 in training at a Hot Springs farm. The farm division is overseen by his wife, Hillary.

Hartman, a 42-year-old native of Phoenix, hails from a family deeply rooted in racing. His father, Stan Hartman, is having a strong meet at Turf Paradise, where he’s won 11 races, while both of his brothers, Alex and Phil, also train horses. Chris Hartman is a three-time title winner at Sunland Park, where he had previously wintered prior to setting up shop at Oaklawn.

Hartman said either Paganol or Russellin could run in the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park. Alsvid, a multiple stakes winner for the barn, runs in a Friday allowance at Oaklawn.