Ivan Fallunovalot follows up big effort in King Cotton

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Tom Howard said Ivan Fallunovalot is a simple horse to please – peppermints make his world.

“He’s pretty low maintenance,” Howard said. “He doesn’t demand much. He just wants his peppermints, and he likes his feed.”

But what Ivan Fallunovalot achieved last month at Oaklawn Park is far from simple. He popped a Beyer Speed Figure of 108 in his seasonal debut Jan. 22, and the number is the co-highest earned this year in North America in races up to a mile. Ivan Fallunovalot shares the distinction with Weekend Hideaway, and the Beyer will make him a strong favorite Saturday in a competitive renewal of the $100,000 King Cotton at Oaklawn Park.

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The King Cotton, for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs, is the first step on Oaklawn’s road to the Grade 3, $300,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 9. The field of eight Saturday includes Apprehender, who has won the last two runnings of the King Cotton, and multiple stakes winners Brewing and Alsvid.

King Cotton, race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Ivan Fallunovalot (Last 3 Beyers: 108-89-93)

◗ He earned his career-high Beyer last out when he was making his first start since September in an optional $50,000 claiming sprint at Oaklawn. Ivan Fallunovalot went to the front and never looked back for an 8 3/4-length win, covering six furlongs on a track rated “wet-fast” in 1:09.74.

“I thought he’d ease up, but he didn’t,” Howard said of the horse’s strong, determined stretch run. “He looked like he was having fun, and he was just going right on with it. I thought we’d have some closers coming at him pretty hard. It didn’t materialize, and I was kind of happy about that.”

◗ Howard said that since the big race, he has kept things the same with Ivan Fallunovalot, who last year won four straight races, including the $75,000 David M. Vance Sprint at Remington Park.

“It’s a little quicker back than we’d normally do with him,” Howard said, “but he came out of the race real good and is happy. We haven’t changed anything. As they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

◗ Ivan Fallunovalot will break from the rail under Calvin Borel, who was aboard last month at Oaklawn.

Apprehender (Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-77)

◗ He won an optional $100,000 claimer at Churchill Downs in his last start Nov. 27.

◗ Shaun Bridgmohan has the mount for trainer Chris Richard.