Munificence coming back for Northern Spur

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Munificence, second last month in the $100,000 Southwest Stakes, is scheduled to return to Oaklawn next month following his win last Saturday night in the $50,000 Sportsman's Paradise at Delta. In the Southwest, Munificence finished behind Greater Good, who won the Grade 3 Rebel on Saturday.

Munificence will not be returning to face Greater Good in the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby, to be run over 1 1/8 miles. Instead, he is being pointed for the $75,000 Northern Spur Breeders' Cup for 3-year-olds on the Arkansas Derby undercard April 16. The race will be run over 1 1/16 miles, which is the next logical distance step for Munificence following his one-mile win in the Sportsman's Paradise.

"If he runs well at a mile and a sixteenth, then we'd go over and run in the [Lone Star Derby] at Dallas," said Jim Hudson, who trains Munificence for John Murrell.

The Grade 3, $300,000 Walmac Lone Star Derby at 1 1/16 miles will be held at Lone Star Park on May 14.

Munificence has won 4 of 5 career starts, all in front-running fashion. He shipped in for the Southwest following a victory in the $50,000 Triple Sec at Delta, and led for most of the one-mile Southwest until he was caught by Greater Good.

Oaklawn-Delta double for Mauk Four?

Mauk Four is penciled in for upcoming starts at Oaklawn and Delta, the tracks over which he has been second in stakes in his last three starts. Jerry Cart, who trains Mauk Four, said the horse is pointing for the $125,000 Gulf Coast Breeders' Cup at Delta on April 2.

"If he comes back good, then we'll run him back in the Fifth Season Breeders' Cup at Oaklawn," said Cart.

The $100,000 Fifth Season at Oaklawn, to be run over 1 1/16 miles, is to be held April 13.

Mauk Four has had a huge winter, finishing first or second in his last six starts. In his last three starts he finished second by a half-length in the Grade 3 Essex at Oaklawn at 11-1 on Feb. 12; second by three-quarters of a length in the $50,000 Delta Mile on March 4; and second by a neck in the Grade 3 Razorback at 23-1 in his last start March 13.

In the Razorback, he earned a career-best Beyer Figure of 100.

"I've been real pleased with him," said Cart, who trains Mauk Four for the R. and W. Srygley Partnership.

Brian Hernandez has the mount in the Gulf Coast. Jeff Burningham, who has been aboard for Mauk Four's last three starts at Oaklawn, would have the mount in the Fifth Season.

"He's very tenacious," said Burningham. "He's game. I like him. He's a big, strong horse."

Added Edge getting a break

Added Edge won the Razorback with a big surge and is getting a little breather right now, said Barry Irwin, president of Team Valor, which races the horse with Robert Wilson. The Razorback was a prep for the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap at 1 1/8 miles, but Irwin said Added Edge is at his best between a mile and 1 1/16 miles. "We'll look for something else," said Irwin. Added Edge is based in Kentucky with trainer Dale Romans.

Pro Prado stretching out

Pro Prado, Free Thinking, and Shrewd Deputy will all meet in the 10th race on Friday, a one-mile allowance for 4-year-olds and up. The race is one of two strong allowances on the card. Debut winner Outsmoken heads the ninth, an entry-level allowance that also drew the promising Semaphore Man.

Pro Prado will be stretching out around two turns for the first time since the Kentucky Derby, in which he finished 10th. That came one start after he finished third to Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones in the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby. Pro Prado last raced March 5, winning an optional-claiming race over Nuttyboom, who last weekend missed by a nose in the $40,000 Spring Stakes at Sam Houston.