By My Standards on target for the Oaklawn Mile

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - By My Standards, who has earned $1.8 million, is scheduled to launch his 5-year-old season in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile, trainer Bret Calhoun said on Thursday. The race is one of four stakes on the Arkansas Derby Day card April 10 at Oaklawn Park.

By My Standards won last year’s Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap over a mile and a eighth. He is shortening up in distance because the Oaklawn Mile will be his first start since November, said Calhoun. The horse was freshened after a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs and has since been working at Fair Grounds.

“We’re planning on running in the Oaklawn Mile,” Calhoun said. “He’s there at Oaklawn. We’re going to work there Sunday and as long as he works well and comes back well, we’re running on April 10.”

Calhoun said Gabe Saez has the mount on By My Standards. The multiple Grade 2 winner is owned by Allied Racing Stable. By My Standards last worked six furlongs in 1:11.40 on March 28.

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“The last work at the Fair Grounds last Sunday was extremely impressive,” said Calhoun.

By My Standards won the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at 3, then last year won the New Orleans Classic, Oaklawn Handicap, and Alysheba at Churchill. A son of Goldencents, he is 6 for 14 in his career.

The Oaklawn Mile is part of the Racing Festival of the South, a series of eight major stakes being run over the first three Saturdays in April at Oaklawn. Purses for the races top $4.9 million. Entries for the Arkansas Derby Day card will be taken on Tuesday.