Kaboom Baby rallies late to capture Natural State
?q=100)
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Kaboom Baby came rolling late to catch Summer Shoes for a half-length win in the $150,000 Natural State Breeders’ Stakes on Thursday at Oaklawn Park. It was another four lengths back in third to Too Pretty.
The race, which was restricted to fillies and mares bred in Arkansas, highlighted a special Thursday card. Oaklawn closes out its meet Saturday.
Kaboom Baby ($6.60) was making a rare two-turn start in the one-mile race that ended at the sixteenth pole. She was content to settle along the rail in sixth in the 14-horse field as Too Pretty came away with the lead, setting fractions of 23.51 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.88 for the half-mile, and 1:13.06 for six furlongs.
Kaboom Baby began her bid on the final turn, swung out into the stretch, and put in a determined bid to catch Summer Shoes, who had moved to the lead at the top of the stretch. The winner covered the distance on a fast track in 1:38.62.
Luis Quinonez was aboard for trainer Ernie Witt II.
Kaboom Baby is a 5-year-old mare by Hightail. She races for her breeder, Tracy Selby. Kaboom Baby has now won 4 of 15 starts for earnings of $421,859.
Racing resumes Friday.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.