Night Ops drops into allowance with stakes-tested field
Night Ops has been a stakes warrior, but on Sunday at Oaklawn Park he returns to the overnight ranks for the first time since February 2020. He goes in a conditioned allowance for 4-year-olds and up over 1 3/16 miles, and the field includes a number of others dropping in from stakes. They include millionaire Tenfold and Grade 2 Kelso runner-up Fort Peck.
Night Ops was a troubled sixth in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs in his most recent start Nov. 26. Prior to the out, he was fourth in both the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga and the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland. His company lines are littered with such top horses as Art Collector, Happy Saver, Independence Hall, Maxfield, Max Player, and Silver State.
“He’s going to get a little bit of class relief,” said Brad Cox, who trains Night Ops for Arkansas-based businessman Steve Landers. “He was very consistent throughout last year and really he’s been consistent his whole career. He’s knocked on the door against some very, very good horses.”
The last time Night Ops raced in the overnight ranks was in a conditioned allowance at Oaklawn. He won that day and then proceeded to win the track’s Essex Handicap, which was the first of 12 consecutive stakes starts for the horse. Night Ops has earned $905,823, with more than $450,000 of that amount coming in Hot Springs, Ark.
“He likes Oaklawn,” Cox said. “He’s always performed well at Oaklawn.”
Night Ops registered the biggest win of his career in the Grade 3 Cornhusker in 2020 at Prairie Meadows.
Florent Geroux has the mount from post 4.
Night Ops could get a nice stalking trip behind such horses as Huge Bigly, Taishan, My Sixth Sense, and Fort Peck.
An honest past would serve the cause of Tenfold, who is well-versed at Sunday’s distance. His efforts include a close third in the Preakness Stakes in 2018. In more recent times, Tenfold has run second in a pair of route stakes in New Mexico, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 98 in the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap.
Ramon Vazquez has the mount on the Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Fort Peck was beaten by Life Is Good in the Kelso. Life Is Good returned to win the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. David Cohen has the mount on Fort Peck for Flying P Stable and trainer Robertino Diodoro.
You’re to Blame is back in the overnight ranks following a stakes start at Aqueduct. Last April he was second in an allowance at Oaklawn won by Lone Rock. Lone Rock would go on to become a multiple Grade 2 winner and last month captured the $200,000 Tinsel at Oaklawn.
Huge Bigly won at Sunday’s distance in November at Churchill. He will break from post 5, while You’re to Blame will start from the rail Sunday.