Ivan Fallunovalot takes aim at Hot Springs

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Ivan Fallunovalot emerged from his fourth-place finish in the $125,000 King Cotton on Saturday in good order, trainer Tom Howard said Monday. The horse, making his first start since winning the Grade 3 De Francis Memorial Dash on Nov. 19 at Laurel, finished four lengths behind Storm Advisory.

“We just got a little short down in the deep going,” Howard said. “We’ll get ready for the Hot Springs.”

Howard’s stable on Tuesday was scheduled to pick up another stakes horse. Wolf Man Rocket, who in 2015 won the Northern Spur at Oaklawn, is invading from Louisiana to be part of the local scene for Arkansas-based owner Frank Fletcher. Ivan Fallunovalot races for another Arkansas resident, Lewis Matthews Jr.

Ivan Fallunovalot earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure on Saturday.

◗ Uncontested, who won the $150,000 Smarty Jones last month at Oaklawn, worked a bullet five-eighths in 1:00.60 on Sunday as he continues preparations for the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest here Feb. 20.

“He worked very well,” trainer Wayne Catalano said Monday. “He came out of it good, ate up everything, so we’re very happy with him.”

Catalano said Channing Hill was aboard Uncontested, who worked by himself Sunday.

“He did it pretty easy,” Catalano said. “Channing thought he did.”

◗ Weast Hill will attempt to push his sterling record over the Oaklawn strip to 7 for 7 when he runs in the eighth race Thursday, a six-furlong allowance for 3-year-olds and up bred in Arkansas. The purse is $75,000.

Weast Hill won at the same level Jan. 22, leading throughout in the mud in his first start since May. Joe Rocco Jr. has the mount for Starsky Weast and trainer Brad Cox.