Lone Rock points to Temperence Hill

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Multiple Grade 2 winner Lone Rock will be moving back to a marathon distance for his next start, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Wednesday.

“We’ll wait for the Temperence Hill,” he said.

The 1 1/2-mile race is set for April 2 at Oaklawn. The purse is $150,000.

Lone Rock won three races at the distance in 2021. He had cut back to 1 1/8 miles for the $200,000 Tinsel in December at Oaklawn and won that race over stablemate Thomas Shelby. Lone Rock shortened up again last out and was a close sixth in the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 12 at Oaklawn.

Lone Rock races for Flying P Stable and R.A. Hill Stable.

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Thomas Shelby will likely make his next start in the Grade 3, $500,000 Essex on March 19 at Oaklawn, Diodoro said. The horse was second by a neck in the Razorback, setting a pressured pace and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 99.

“He ran his guts out,” Diodoro said. “I think he’s pretty proud of himself. He knows he ran well. He really bounced out of that race unbelievable. As hard as he ran, I thought he might lie down for a week. He tried. We’ll probably go to the Essex, but we’ll let him tell us when he’s ready.”

Thomas Shelby is owned by M and M Racing.