Larry Jones planning to have string at Oaklawn

Trainer Larry Jones said Tuesday he plans to have a division of horses at Oaklawn Park for the first time in eight years when the Hot Springs, Ark., track opens Jan. 25.

Jones will continue to have a winter base at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. He said Oaklawn became an option because one of his clients, Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farm, expressed a desire to race there. Also, Oaklawn is good fit because Jones has mostly dirt horses, and Oaklawn doesn’t have a turf course.

“It divides the horses up a little more,” Jones said. “We’ll see a little more action with Oaklawn. We don’t have that many grass horses.”

Porter and Jones have teamed to win every major Oaklawn stakes for fillies and mares, including the 2011 edition of the Grade 1 Apple Blossom with eventual Horse of the Year Havre de Grace and the Grade 2 Fantasy with both Eight Belles (2008) and Joyful Victory (2011). Jones also won the Southwest with the Porter-owned Old Fashioned in 2009. One of the first major wins Jones had at Oaklawn was the 2003 running of the Fantasy with Ruby’s Reception.

Jones has shipped into Oaklawn with four starters at the track since 2016, winning allowance races with Cinnamon Spice in 2016 and Jenda’s Agenda in 2018.

Believe in Royalty to Oklahoma Derby

Believe in Royalty, who won the Ellis Park Derby Aug. 12, is headed to Remington Park. Trainer Larry Jones said Believe in Royalty is being pointed for the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 30.

Believe in Royalty is a well-bred, developing horse who ran a close fourth in the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows one start before notching his first stakes win last out at Ellis Park.

“He’s starting to come around,” Jones said. “We’re finally getting on the same page.”

Believe in Royalty is a son of Tapit and Believe You Can, the Kentucky Oaks winner trained by Jones. Believe in Royalty is owned by the partnership of Brereton Jones, who raced Believe You Can, and Robert Baker and William Mack.

Larry Jones said Hold Her Tight also is headed for Oklahoma, to run in the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks on the same card as the Oklahoma Derby. She was third last out in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows and races for her breeder, Brereton Jones.