Morse has decision to make with Connie K.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Connie K, who has won her last three starts topped by the $150,000 Downthedustyroad on March 5 at Oaklawn, could see more stakes action at the meet, according to trainer Randy Morse.
Morse said there is an outside chance Connie K could run back in the $200,000 Carousel on April 2. He said the other option is to move her to two turns for the $150,000 Natural State for Arkansas-bred fillies and mares May 6.
“If we’re ever going to try her two turns, against Arkansas-breds would be the place to do it,” he said. Morse and Randy Patterson are the breeders and owners of Connie K.
“She’s named after my aunt,” Morse said. “She was kind of like our second mother. My mom’s sister. She passed away the day this filly ran third at Churchill [last June].”
Connie K began her win streak a few starts later, in a $50,000 starter allowance Nov. 5 at Churchill. She is a daughter of Street Strategy, who won the Fifth Season at Oaklawn for Patterson and Morse.
The two have Connie K’s half-sister Little Rocker debuting in the fifth race Friday at Oaklawn.
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Claims approach $10 million
Oaklawn is approaching $10 million in claims at the meet. There had been 464 transactions worth a total of $9,964,750 through Wednesday.
Trainer Coty Rosin has won two of the three biggest shakes at the meet, getting Girls a Bullet in a 39-way shake last Friday and Fastest Spin in a 20-way shake Feb. 21. There was a 23-way shake for Leading West on Jan. 16.
◗ Ethereal Road, a member of Daily Racing Form's Derby Watch, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Wednesday at Oaklawn. The track was rated good. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said the Rebel runner-up remains on course for the Blue Grass at Keeneland.
◗ Plans for impressive allowance winner Interstatedaydream are still being determined, said owner Staton Flurry. “We’re probably leaning a little more toward the Ashland, but I don’t think we’re ruling the Fantasy out, either,” he said. “We’ll see how the races line up.”
◗ Apprentice Kylee Jordan is back riding at Oaklawn on Friday after winning with four of her six mounts on Monday at Will Rogers Downs.
◗ John Hiraldo, a finalist for the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey of 2021, is now a journeyman.
◗ The champions Take Charge Brandi and Sweet Catomine have the respective foals Best Time and Invariably facing off in the seventh race Friday at Oaklawn.
◗ The estimated crowd of 37,500 last Saturday was a meet-high for Oaklawn.