Friend of Liberty goes for hat trick

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Friend of Liberty will be seeking to win her third straight race Thursday when she starts from the rail in an optional $62,500 claiming sprint for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn. The race has first-level allowance conditions and is to be run over six furlongs. It drew 10.

Friend of Liberty has won both of her starts at this meet, starting with a $50,000 starter allowance by six lengths Jan. 19. She returned to capture an optional $75,000 claiming sprint Feb. 10. The starts were the first in blinkers for Friend of Liberty. Luis Contreras has the mount for owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison and trainer Steve Asmussen.

The chief threat could be Swing and Sway, who was just edged when second in an entry-level allowance March 10 at Oaklawn.