Minister of Soul looks sharp for Highland Ice Stakes

Minister of Soul has been feeling the rhythm, and if the melody he’s been playing in Arizona sounds the same in Oklahoma he’ll be difficult to beat Tuesday in the $50,000 Highland Ice at Will Rogers.

The Highland Ice, carded at six furlongs, drew nine entrants, five of whom have hit at least 90 on the Beyer Speed Figure scale.

Minister of Soul is owned and trained by Esteban Martinez, and while his recent form is very strong, bettors should demand at least something around the 3-1 at which he’s listed on the morning line.

Minister of Soul, a 6-year-old with 22 starts, has hit laudable peaks in the past but none as high as his last two starts, both at Turf Paradise. On Feb. 8, he went head and head with high-level sprinter Mr. Jagermeister before succumbing late in the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup, winding up second by three-quarters of a length. Fifteen days later, Minister of Soul rolled to a blowout allowance-race victory at Turf Paradise, where he has since posted four published works, including a blistering six furlongs in 1:09.40 on March 31. He’s drawn the rail and might not be quick enough to make the front over Oil Money and, perhaps, Nero, which could lead to a tricky trip in his Will Rogers debut.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Nero just raced March 29, finishing a solid third in a high-level Oaklawn allowance race for trainer Steve Asmussen. Three starts into his current form cycle following a long layoff and trainer change from Bob Baffert, Nero seems like an exposed horse, capable of winning but unlikely to move forward. The hope is the Asmussen brand attracts more attention than this entrant deserves, producing value on horses like Minister of Soul.

Oil Money comes out of an 870-yard mixed-breed race at Turf Paradise and if he should shake loose on the front end could give backers a thrill at a longer price than one normally finds on a Robertino Diodoro-trained Will Rogers runner. Minister of Soul, however, beat him when they met Feb. 23.

Trumpence is one of the more interesting win candidates at presumably fair odds. He debuted last May 20 at Will Rogers for a mere $15,000 maiden-claiming tag but showed from the start he’s a much more valuable racehorse than that. Trumpence won his first out by five lengths, then easily ran through two allowance conditions at Canterbury Park in the summer, turned in two more strong showings in the fall at Remington, finally going over the top in a Sam Houston stakes in January. He’s back from a freshening over a surface he’s handled and should get a good trip.

Trumpence last fall at Remington beat Imma Bling by three lengths and faces him again Tuesday. Imma Bling, who probably prefers turf, races for the first time since Karl Broberg re-claimed him for $50,000 on Feb. 28 at Oaklawn.

Also entered is leading Colorado-bred, Collusionist, who’s not without a chance. Collusionist has a 7-6-1-0 record at Arapahoe Park and is 6-0-0-1 at other venues, but though he might better suit routes, he returned from a winter break with a rallying fourth in the Phoenix Gold Cup and would be the one to capitalize on an intemperate early and middle pace.