Mrs. Beans counting on stalking trip in Oaklawn feature
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Isaac Castillo has had a breakout meet at Oaklawn Park and he will look to continue his run Sunday, when he rides a number of contenders on the card led by Mrs. Beans.
Mrs. Beans goes in the featured eighth race, a $32,000 starter allowance for 4-year-olds and up over six furlongs. The field of nine includes eight-time winner Jackman and nine-time winner Seven Nation Army.
Castillo has been aboard Mrs. Beans all meet long as the stable rider for the horse’s owner, Danny Caldwell, and trainer, Martin Villafranco.
“They’ve been our backbone,” said Dylan Fazio, agent for Castillo.
Mrs. Beans has kept the company of some notable sprinters this season. He’s faced multiple stakes winner Gar Hole twice, finishing second to his fellow Arkansas-bred in a January allowance and fourth to him in the $150,000 Nodouble Stakes in March. One start later, Mrs. Beans was fourth to Skelly in a local allowance, and since that race Skelly has won the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.
Mrs. Beans is moving back into open company following a third-place finish against statebred starter foes. He beat open allowance foes in December.
Mrs. Beans has natural speed and could get a tracking trip behind Jackman and Seven Nation Army. Both horses break inside of Mrs. Beans, who drew post 5. Seven Nation Army starts from the rail and figures to be prominent, while the quick Jackman will start from post 4.
Castillo also will team with Caldwell and Villafranco in the third race with Go Go Go, the fifth race with Dial in for Lute, and the ninth race with Sparkin.
Castillo, 25, entered the race week sitting fifth in the standings, with 40 wins from 318 starts. His mounts have earned more than $2.2 million, with his richest win at the meet coming in the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes aboard Key of Life.
“This meet has surpassed what we really thought we’d do,” Fazio said. “It’s just been a true pleasure. We’re hoping to close out the meet on a nice roll here.”
Fazio said Castillo will remain at Oaklawn through the close of the season May 6, then will begin riding at his new base of Churchill Downs on May 11.
Castillo’s additional mounts on the Sunday card are Hallow Point in the first race for trainer Steve Asmussen and Stomping Hotrod in the fourth race for trainer Chris Richard.
◗ Agent Ruben Munoz said Thursday that he will begin representing former longtime client Ricardo Santana Jr. on April 29, for the meet at Churchill Downs. Santana is third in the current standings at Oaklawn.
◗ Jockey Cristian Torres sits atop the standings with 86 wins, 10 more than second leading rider Francisco Arrieta. Torres leads all riders in mount earnings with $5.1 million.
◗ Robertino Diodoro leads the trainer standings with 55 wins from 228 starts, while Steve Asmussen ranks second with a record of 46 for 337. Asmussen leads all trainers in stable earnings with $4.3 million.
◗ Jerry Caroom is the leading owner with 15 wins, two more than second-leading owners Ten Strike Racing and the partnership of Heath Aaron and Sheena Campbell.
◗ There have been 479 claims for $9,358,250 in transactions between stables so far this meet at Oaklawn.
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