Mr. Money set for 4-year-old debut in Oaklawn Mile

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Mr. Money, a millionaire who won four straight graded stakes races last year, remains on course to launch his 4-year-old season Saturday in the $150,000 Oaklawn Mile, trainer Bret Calhoun said Tuesday.

The race will share a card with the $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes for 3-year-olds. Entries are to be drawn Wednesday.

Mr. Money will be making his first start since a seventh-place finish in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. Prior to that race, he won the Pat Day Mile and Matt Winn, both at Churchill Downs, and the Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand and the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer.

Mr. Money has been working at Fair Grounds in advance of the Oaklawn Mile.

“This was the original race we picked out for him,” Calhoun said. “It’s a good place to come back, a good distance. The timing is good for us.

“I think the race is going to come up deeper than normal just for the fact nobody has a place to run.”

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

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the shutdown of most tracks in North America.

Improbable, a Grade 1 winner based at Santa Anita, is scheduled to run in the Oaklawn Mile, trainer Bob Baffert said Tuesday.

Tom’s d’Etat, who in his last start won the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs, also is targeting the race, according to trainer Al Stall, Jr.

Calhoun said Gabe Saez has the mount on Mr. Money.

Calhoun has two horses under consideration for the Oaklawn Stakes, Mr. Big News and Digital. He said Digital is “on the fence” as he is still discussing options with owner Tom Durant.

Mr. Big News last raced Feb. 15 and was fifth in a division of the Risen Star at Fair Grounds. He was on the also-eligible list for the Louisiana Derby and did not draw into the race. A large field also is expected for the Oaklawn Stakes.

“I think it’s a little iffy he’s going to get in,” Calhoun said of Mr. Big News, a maiden winner with earnings of $47,053.

Calhoun said the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Oaklawn Stakes is a big appeal for Mr. Big News.

Pat Pope, racing secretary at Oaklawn, said Tuesday that the race Saturday could draw 12 to 15 horses. He said the maximum gate is 14.

Basin, a Grade 1 winner, and Thousand Words, a Grade 2 winner, are both pointing to the Oaklawn Stakes, according to their respective trainers, Steve Asmussen and Baffert.

Pope said the first three finishers in the Oaklawn Stakes will receive a fees-paid berth into the Arkansas Derby, which has been moved to May 2.