Hollis looks to take advantage of outside draw

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hollis won the draw for the featured eighth race Thursday at Oaklawn Park. Now, he’ll attempt to win the race, a conditioned allowance for 4-year-olds and up that carries an optional-claiming price of $100,000.

Hollis will break from post 7 in the field of seven, outside of his opposing speed. The race will be run over six furlongs.

“I think having the outside post position is ideal for us,” said John Ortiz, who trains Hollis. “My horse breaks and puts you in front. He doesn’t need to have it. He can press anybody who wants to go for the lead.”

The draw should give jockey David Cabrera options with Hollis, who is one of three stakes winners in the field. The others are Grade 3 winner Strike Power and Gray Attempt. Seven Nation Army, who was second in the $150,000 King Cotton last month at Oaklawn, is the probable favorite Thursday.

“It’s a very impressive race,” Ortiz said. “It’s as tough as you want them to be.”

Hollis is a fighter. He set a quick pace in the $75,000 Stonerside Sprint on Jan. 31 at Sam Houston Race Park and held to the wire to finish in a dead heat with the fast-closing Sky Ride. The horses covered six furlongs in 1:10.70. It was Hollis’s fourth win in his last seven starts for the partnership of WSS Racing and 4 G Racing.

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“He is just a machine,” Ortiz said. “We call him the little ATM machine. He shows up every time. He’s got the biggest heart. He’s a little horse with the biggest heart.”

In November, Hollis was second by a head to Seven Nation Army in an allowance at Churchill Downs. Hollis dueled throughout.

“It was very impressive race all the way,” Ortiz said. “At the wire, Seven Nation Army just nailed us there the last jump. We were happy with the effort Hollis gave us.”

Both horses earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 99, which was a career-high for Hollis.

Ortiz also will saddle Gray Attempt, a three-time stakes winner making his first start for the barn after being based with trainer Jinks Fires. The horse is owned by Dwight Pruett. The race Thursday will be his first out since July.

“We picked him up over the summer, gave him a little vacation,” Ortiz said. “He’s put in some really impressive works.”

Jon Court has the mount from post 6.

Seven Nation Army will break from post 3. Ramon Vazquez has the mount for trainer Ron Moquett.

The Sound is cutting back to one turn after winning a nonwinners-of-three lifetime allowance over 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 29 at Oaklawn. He is looking for his fourth straight win. Florent Geroux has the mount for trainer Brad Cox.