Hartman looks to stay on a roll with Condensation and Klassy Bridgette

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Chris Hartman has been in the zone this winter and can keep the momentum going Friday, when he sends out leading contenders Condensation and Klassy Bridgette in the eighth race at Oaklawn Park.

The 3-year-old fillies will vie for favoritism in the first-level allowance at six furlongs. The race drew nine, with Miss Addie Lynn cross-entered in a Sunday race at Oaklawn.

Hartman is 10 for 24 this meet at Oaklawn and sits second in the standings. He won four races Dec. 18, with three of the victories in Hot Springs and the other at Fair Grounds. Hartman had two winners Jan. 6 and again on Jan. 8. He has a division at Fair Grounds and a 35-horse stable at Oaklawn.

“I think we have kind of the right horses, and they’re running good,” Hartman said. “We’ve got some nice 3-year-olds and hopefully, they’ll keep moving forward.”

Condensation is a winner of 3 of 4 starts, with her lone loss a runner-up finish in the $99,000 Letellier Memorial on Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds. She closed from sixth and could be closer to the pace Friday.

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“She kind of actually outbroke them and then got wrangled back and lost a little bit of position,” Hartman said. “She ran a really good race, I thought, to be second.”

Condensation is a daughter of Frosted who races for Pravin Patel. She will start from post 8, under Nik Juarez.

“She broke really sharp last time,” Hartman said. “We’ll see how it plays out this time.”

Klassy Bridgette is meeting winners for the first time following a maiden win in her third career start Dec. 11 at Oaklawn. She closed with a rush to win the 5 1/2-furlong race in the mud, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 71 that she earned is the best last-race number in the field Friday.

“She has not been breaking really well,” Hartman said. “We thought she would have a little more speed than she’s shown in her races. She had an extremely quick turn of foot in her last race, and hopefully, she’ll break a little sharper this time. But we’ll see what happens.”

In her debut, Klassy Bridgette was second to an eventual stakes winner in Pretty Mischievous. Francisco Arrieta will ride Klassy Bridgette on Friday. The pair will start from post 2.

“She’s a very honest filly, tries hard every time,” Hartman said.

U Glow Girl is one of the more accomplished runners in the field as a two-time winner. She is coming of a conditioned allowance win at Horseshoe Indianapolis and was flattered when the runner-up from the race returned to win at the same level in her next start. Joe Talamo has the mount for Steve Landers and trainer Brad Cox.

◗ Tejano Twist, who won his third straight race in a $107,000 allowance last weekend at Oaklawn, likely will make his next start in the track’s $150,000 King Cotton on Jan. 28, Hartman said.

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