Maize Road may give rivals the blues in Rainbow Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Maize Road might have to fend off the turnbacking Racer to win the $100,000 Rainbow Stakes on Sunday at Oaklawn Park. The horses are among the chief players in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds bred in Arkansas.

Maize Road has been in sprint mode this season, winning his maiden at the distance of the Rainbow. Racer, meanwhile, comes off a win at a mile at Oaklawn. Others set to start Sunday include Handsome Roy, a half-brother to past Rainbow winner Rattlesnake Holler, and Strawn’s Cash, who won his maiden against open-company rivals in January at Delta Downs.

The Rainbow closes a weekend in which Oaklawn put the spotlight on the Arkansas breeding program, running three restricted stakes dating back to Friday. Overall, the track has run five stakes for Arkansas-breds this meet in a program that is growing along with the purse structure at Oaklawn.

KEY CONTENDERS

Rainbow (Race 8)

Maize Road, by Afleet Alex

Last 3 Beyers: 67-65-59

◗ He has taken full advantage of the rich Arkansas-bred program available only during the three-month meet at Oaklawn, winning a maiden special weight against statebreds in his second career start in February. The purse was $68,000. Maize Road also ran against Arkansas-breds in his most recent start, finishing third when facing older rivals in a first-level allowance that had a purse of $78,000 on March 20.

“He ran hard,” said Randy Morse, who trains Maize Road for Randy Patterson. “He tries hard, that little horse. The only issue I have is he’s run several times in a pretty short timeframe.

“You got to run because the breed program is so good.”

◗ Maize Road will break from post 6, under Alex Canchari.

“He usually lays three or four [lengths] off them,” Morse said.

Racer, by Jonesboro

Last 3 Beyers: 72-64-63

◗ He wired the field in an optional $35,000 claiming race for Arkansas-breds at a mile March 17, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 72 that he earned is the best career number in the Rainbow.

◗ Racer, like Maize Road, will be returning to the straight 3-year-old ranks for the Rainbow.

◗ Racer is the winningest member of the field with two career victories, both coming at a mile. He won a $25,000 maiden-claiming race for statebreds at the distance Feb. 7 at Oaklawn.

◗ Jon Court has the mount for Robert Yagos and trainer Jinks Fires.