Lady Rocket may show more speed with blinkers

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Lady Rocket will add blinkers for the featured eighth race Thursday at Oaklawn Park, and trainer Brad Cox hopes the equipment will help launch her right into contention in the six-furlong, second-level allowance that has a purse of $106,000.

The race, which is for fillies and mares, is one of the card’s two offerings for the division. Crown Jewel will start as the probable favorite in the seventh, a first-level allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs. It has a purse of $105,000.

Lady Rocket is part of an eight-horse field that includes six-time restricted stakes winner Ready to Runaway, four-time restricted stakes winner Wildwood’s Beauty, and the Grade 2-placed Auberge.

Lady Rocket is a winner of 2 of 4 starts. She last raced Jan. 29 and closed for second in a conditioned allowance at Oaklawn. It was her first start since November, when she closed for fourth in the $100,000 Safely Kept at Laurel Park.

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“She really didn’t get involved like we thought she would in her last race,” Cox said. “She’s been quick enough. She’s a great work horse. I was a little shocked she kind of took herself as far out of it as she did last time – and in the race in Maryland.

“For whatever reason, her last two races, she really hasn’t been involved. She ran on in both of them – just left herself way too much to do going short. So, we’re just going to see if blinkers will put her up in the race a little more. She’s been training great with them, so we’ll see if it can propel her forward the first part of the race.”

Lady Rocket won her debut at Saratoga and an entry-level allowance at Keeneland, the latter race over fellow rival Ocean Breeze. She will start from post 4 on Thursday. Martin Garcia has the mount on the daughter of Tale of the Cat for Arkansas resident Frank Fletcher.

Ready to Runaway is a top Minnesota-bred who on Thursday is making her first start since September at Canterbury Park. She will break from post 3. Alex Canchari has the mount from trainer Mac Robertson. Sara Sea is out of the mare Absinthe Minded, who was a three-time stakes winner at Oaklawn. Lexi On the Move and Cherished are both 2 for 3 at Oaklawn.

Ocean Breeze could be flattered by the time the race rolls around. Crown Jewel, who finished a half-length behind her in second in an Oaklawn allowance Feb. 5, looks like the horse to beat in the seventh. Crown Jewel earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80, the best last-race number in the field.

“She’s a nice filly that likes Oaklawn,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro for Peter E. Blum.

Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 4.

“She’s fast,” Asmussen said. “She has good ability and generally is in a good spot.”

Crown Jewel could sit just off Diggin Gold, a speed horse to her immediate inside.