Man in the Can has lucrative races coming up

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Man in the Can, who rose to the top of the Arkansas-bred ranks last meet at Oaklawn with his wins in the Rainbow Stakes and Arkansas Breeders Championship, is back at Oaklawn and has two stakes objectives this season, according to trainer Ron Moquett.

Moquett said Man in the Can’s first stakes goal is the $150,000 Nodouble over six furlongs March 27. His other objective is defense of his title in the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders Championship over 1 1/16 miles on April 30.

Some of Man in the Can’s rivals for the Nodouble figure to emerge from Friday’s seventh race, a 14-horse conditioned allowance for Arkansas-breds over six furlongs.

Man in the Can will start his season Sunday in an Oaklawn allowance that also drew Grade 1 winner Combatant.

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Another notable Arkansas-bred eyeing local stakes action is Miss Antioch, who was an impressive winner over nine others in a conditioned allowance for Arkansas-bred fillies and mares Sunday. She darted home by three lengths while making her first start since October.

“I thought she rated very kindly this time, and the main thing was she was just catching another gear at the wire,” trainer Allen Milligan said.

Milligan said Miss Antioch is now being pointed to the $150,000 Downthedustyroad for fillies and mares at six furlongs Feb. 20.

◗ Jockey Channing Hill, who was seriously injured in a race last April at Oaklawn, is recuperating at home in Kentucky. “He’s doing very well,” said trainer Wayne Catalano, the father-in-law of Hill. “He’s healing good.”

◗ Mr. Big News, winner of last year’s $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes who went on to run third in the Kentucky Derby, was given some turn-out time this fall and is scheduled to resume training in about a month, trainer Bret Calhoun said.