Laughing Fox up late to take Oaklawn Invitational

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Laughing Fox will be considered for the Preakness Stakes after winning a fees-paid berth into the race Saturday in the $300,000 Oaklawn Invitational.

He won the inaugural running of the 1 1/8-mile race by a neck over Night Ops, while it was another 3 1/2 lengths back to Proverb in third.

Laughing Fox, who is nominated to the Triple Crown, will probably now ship to the Churchill Downs division of his trainer, Steve Asmussen, said Alex Lieblong, who owns Laughing Fox with his wife, JoAnn.

Lieblong said plans, including a potential start in the Preakness on May 18, would be made after discussions with Asmussen and his Oaklawn-based assistant, Darren Fleming.

“It’s very, very nice to be given a berth,” Alex Lieblong said. “I'm very appreciative of that. Two weeks is two weeks. We’ve just got to see what he tells us, see what Steve and Darren tell us.

“If the horse decides he wants to go, we’ll take him.”

Laughing Fox ($10) was content to let the pace go Saturday, as Proverb set fractions of 22.87 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.98 for the half-mile and 1:11.25 for six furlongs. Laughing Fox began picking off rivals and through the final eighth of a mile worked to push past Night Ops and cover the distance on a fast track in 1:49.78.

“It was a tough race and he showed grit,” Alex Lieblong said. “When he gets head and head with one and it’s his day, he’s kind of tough to beat.”

Ramon Vazquez was aboard Laughing Fox. The horse has now won 3 of 7 starts and earned $338,518, with his three victories coming over the course of this meet at Oaklawn. All were two-turn wins, starting with a maiden special weight by a neck on Jan. 25 then an allowance by 1 1/4 lengths on Feb. 18. In his most recent start, he was fourth in the Arkansas Derby.

Laughing Fox is a son of Union Rags whom the Lieblongs purchased for $375,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in training in March 2018. He is out of the multiple stakes-winning mare Saskawea.

Oaklawn introduced the Invitational this year as part of its expanded meet that closed Saturday. The track typically closes in mid-April. The Maryland Jockey Club announced earlier this year that the winner of the Oaklawn Invitational would earn a berth into the Preakness provided the horse is nominated to the Triple Crown.

Hoonani Road stays perfect at Oaklawn

Earlier on the card, Hoonani Road improved his Oaklawn record to 7 for 7 after he withstood a stewards’ inquiry into the stretch run to win the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship. He won by a half-length over K J’s Nobility, while it was another neck back to Bandit Point in third.

Hoonani Road ($3.60) broke from post 12 and moved to the lead, dueling through an opening quarter in 22.82 seconds. He proceeded to take the field through a half-mile in 46.99 seconds and six furlongs in 1:12.15. In the stretch, Hoonani Road fought while under pressure from closing rivals and covered the distance on a fast track in 1:48.82.

“This horse, he’s just all class,” said winning rider Channing Hill, who because of a flight issue drove from Churchill Downs to Oaklawn to ride Hoonani Road.

Wayne Catalano trains Hoonani Road for Jerry Caroom.

Caroom said Hoonani Road would now get some time off. The horse has built his Oaklawn record over the past two seasons, and was winning his third stakes race in Hot Springs in the Arkansas Breeders’ Championship.

Overall, Hoonani Road is a winner of 8 of 12 starts for earnings of $452,838. Hoonani Road is by Jonesboro.