Grudge match sprint
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Blink and you might miss it. The $100,000 Carousel Breeders' Cup will go as the first race at Oaklawn Park on Sunday, with four fast fillies in a six-furlong race that is new this year to the Racing Festival of the South.
The race is something of a grudge match between Powder and Spanish Glitter, who finished one-two, respectively, last month in the $50,000 Spring Fever Stakes at Oaklawn. The Carousel has also drawn Miss Seffens, who will launch what will likely be her final season on Sunday, and explosive allowance winner Southern Tour.
Spanish Glitter, one of the top female sprinters in the Midwest and a winner of 11 races and $427,600, will attempt to turn the tables on Powder, who upset 1-5 Spanish Glitter in the Spring Fever.
In that race, Spanish Glitter had more obstacles to overcome than she should have on Sunday. For one thing, she had missed a few days of training the week of the Spring Fever because of inclement weather at her Kentucky base. Since then, the weather has been more cooperative, and instead of vanning in for this race as she did for the Spring Fever, Spanish Glitter shipped in by plane on Wednesday.
Trainer Bernie Flint has given the mount to leading rider James Lopez.
Tim Doocy will ride Powder, who is undefeated in three starts at Oaklawn this meet. She made her stakes debut in the Spring Fever and was impressive, winning the 5 1/2-furlong race by two lengths in 1:03.60 for a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 106.
Since that race, she has thrived.
"It was shocking how well she came out of the race," said trainer Sonny Wigginton. "She never missed an oat and came out squealing and playing. Fillies don't do that. Usually [a race] takes something out of them. She has a tough constitution."
Miss Seffens, who is 5, has not raced since finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland on Oct. 21
"She had been running hard and needed a break," said trainer Steve Wren.
Miss Seffens tends to run well fresh, but Wren said that ideally he would have liked to have given her one more workout for the Carousel. The race is expected to be her final appearance at Oaklawn, where she rose to prominence by winning three races by a combined 28 1/2 lengths as a 3-year-old, including the $50,000 Martha Washington Stakes.
Southern Tour, who can stalk the pace, could be dangerous if a speed duel erupts in the Carousel.
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