Gary Thomas shares memories of Rampage
The Arkansas Derby that Omaha Beach won April 13 at Oaklawn was just the third time the race was run on a sloppy track since Rampage captured it in 1986, according to the track’s media guide. Gary Thomas, who trained Rampage, recalled the wet weather conditions from that afternoon after attending this year’s Arkansas Derby in which the rain was constant.
“It was worse than this year’s,” Thomas said. “It was raining sideways. There were about 72,000 people there.”
Balto Star won the Arkansas Derby over a sloppy track in 2001. Smarty Jones won on a muddy track in 2004.
Thomas, 77, first came to Oaklawn in 1969.
“I’d been racing back East and I got stalls here,” he said. “I was training for Audley Farm. I had one of their divisions. That brought me to Hot Springs.”
Audley Farm operated one of the leading stables in North America.
Thomas now splits his year between Arkansas and Kentucky. The top horses in his barn right now include Greeley and Ben, a recent allowance winner at Oaklawn; and Best of Greeley. Thomas also has some 2-year-olds on deck for Churchill, including a filly by Mucho Macho Man.
◗ Principe Guilherme will meet five-time stakes winner Mr. Jagermeister in Friday’s eighth race at Oaklawn, an optional $62,500 claiming sprint for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs. Mr. Jagermeister is cutting back to one turn and removing blinkers after running third in a mile allowance March 19 at Turf Paradise. Leandro Goncalves has the mount for trainer Valorie Lund.
◗ Mr. Money Bags, a multiple stakes winner who has won his last three starts by a combined margin of 24 lengths, was to work Wednesday at his Louisiana Downs before shipping to Churchill this week for an intended start in the Grade 3, $400,000 Pat Day Mile on May 4, trainer Mike Neatherlin said Monday.
◗ Evangeline Downs will have a special 3 p.m. Central post for Thursday’s program, according to Chris Warren, director of racing for the Opelousas, La., track. Turf racing at the meet, which opened April 3, was to begin Wednesday, weather permitting, Warren said.
◗ Trainer David Anderson and jockey Jake Olesiak on Saturday at Fonner Park hit milestones for Thoroughbred wins in North America. Anderson reached 2,000 and Olesiak, 1,000, according to Daily Racing Form records.
◗ The single line of corporate tents in the Oaklawn infield will remain through the close of the meet May 4, according to an official. The infield is scheduled to be open the next two Saturdays.
◗ Dorrance will miss an intended start in the $150,000 Bachelor for 3-year-olds on Saturday at Oaklawn due to injury, trainer C.R. Trout said Monday.
◗ Trainer Karl Broberg has gone 11 for 29 at Lone Star Park to top the standings after the first week of racing, while C.J. McMahon leads all riders at the meet after going 11 for 25.
◗ Jockey Ramon Vazquez won five races on Friday’s card at Oaklawn.
