Hill riding promising 3-year-olds in Uncontested, Farrell

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Channing Hill is the regular rider on two of the more exciting 3-year-olds currently racing, and both will run in graded stakes over the next week. Uncontested goes for his second consecutive stakes win of the Oaklawn Park meet Monday in the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest, while Farrell seeks her third straight stakes victory Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds.

Uncontested on Friday drew post 3 in a field of 13 for the Southwest. Farrell will start from post 2 in a field of seven for the Rachel Alexandra. Both races will be run over 1 1/16 miles and offer qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

“It’s been a great two months, and hopefully it’s a good next three months,” Hill said. “A lot can happen in between there. But we’re just hoping for good luck and continued success with these horses. They’re going to have to keep moving forward, and I think they will.”

Uncontested has used his good speed to win two of three career starts, including last month’s $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn by 5 1/4 lengths. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

“Every time I get on him, I’m a little more excited about him,” Hill said. “The best part about him is how calm he is. He’s just so calm and cool, and nothing phases him. He walks back from the track like he’s a pony. Every time you see him on the wash rack, he looks like he’s going to fall asleep. I really think that’s important for a horse of that caliber. He’s a horse that can take a deep breath and kind of relax, and he’s like that on the racetrack, too.”

Uncontested set fractions of 23 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.20 for the half-mile in the Smarty Jones before winning the race in a stakes-record 1:36.20.

“When we go down the backside, he looks like he’s going fast – which he is going, fast – but the way he feels, [it’s like] you’re going 50 [for the half-mile] because he takes a few deep breaths and then he just kind of reaches out. And then, when you ask him, he reaches out again.”

Hill said the horse’s composure is one reason he has confidence that Uncontested will settle off horses if need be Monday.

As for Farrell, who won the Grade 2 Golden Rod last fall at Churchill Downs, she is coming off a 2 3/4-length win in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds. The race was run in the slop Jan. 21.

“She got over a track I don’t think she really handled last time, and she ran really good,” Hill said. “I do believe in her to be a top filly.”

Wayne Catalano, who trains both Uncontested and Farrell, is Hill’s father-in-law. Coffeepot Stable owns Farrell, while Uncontested races for Harry Rosenblum of Bob LaPenta.

The field for the Southwest, from the rail with riders, is: Cool Arrow, Brian Hernandez Jr.; Silver Dust, Corey Lanerie; Uncontested, Hill; Lookin At Lee, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Rowdy the Warrior, Luis Quinonez; Cu Rahy, Glenn Corbett; Warrior’s Club, Chris Landeros; Petrov, Jose Ortiz; Dilettante, Florent Geroux; Hence, Ramon Vazquez; One Liner, John Velazquez; P C Cowboy, Carlos Marquez Jr.; Chief Know It All, Joe Rocco Jr.

Cool Arrow was cross-entered in the Risen Star on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

The Southwest will go as the ninth race on a 10-race program that includes the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap led by Gun Runner. Post time for the Southwest is 5:09 p.m. Central. The forecast for Monday calls for a high of 73 degrees and a 20 percent chance of precipitation, according to The Weather Channel.

The Southwest is the final 17-point race on the Kentucky Derby prep schedule, with the top four finishers earning points on a scale of 10-4-2-1. The points value of preps increase up to the Kentucky Derby.

Gun Runner on Razorback rail

Gun Runner will launch his 4-year-old season from the rail Monday as the 122-pound highweight in the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap. He’s part of an eight-horse field for the 1 1/16-mile race, which has undergone a bit of a makeover. The purse has been boosted by $150,000, and the race has been moved to a February date rather than its traditional slot in March.

Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope said track president Charles Cella and his family made changes to the race, pairing it with the Southwest to make a strong card even more appealing. The move is already a hit with the draw of Gun Runner, who is making his first start since winning the Grade 1 Clark Handicap.

Trainer Steve Asmussen has given the mount to Florent Geroux.

The field, from the rail with riders, is: Gun Runner, Geroux; Domain’s Rap, Ramon Vazquez; Blue Tone, Jose Ortiz; Smack Smack, Shane Laviolette; Hawaakom, Miguel Mena; Chief of Staff, Walter De La Cruz; Dazzling Gem, Robby Albarado; and Goats Town, Chris Landeros.

Dazzling Gem was cross-entered in the Grade 3 Mineshaft on Saturday at Fair Grounds.