Oaklawn: Comedero hardly looks rusty winning comeback in Nodouble

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Comedero established himself as a 3-year-old sprinter of note last year when he won five stakes, including the Grade 3 Chick Lang at Pimlico. Saturday, he looked as good as ever when he made his first start in six months in the $50,000 Nodouble at Oaklawn Park.

Comedero, returning to the Arkansas-bred ranks to start his season, set quick fractions and won in hand, cruising home by 10 ¾ lengths over Toga’s Storm. Comedero covered six furlongs in 1:09.17, a few hours before he was to be crowned the 2010 Arkansas-bred of the year at a banquet in Hot Springs.

“Now we’ve got his first race behind him, we can start planning out a campaign,” said Michael Stidham, who trains Comedero for Peter Redekop.

Comedero broke with the field and was joined by Toga’s Storm through an opening quarter in 21.79 seconds. He increased his advantage through a half-mile in 44.79, and cruised home under regular rider Robby Albarado.

“That was pretty easy for him,” said Albarado. “He had a little pressure early, but once he shook loose he put his ears up and just cantered around the turn.”

Redekop was in from Canada to watch Comedero, a horse he purchased for $350,000 after the son of Posse had won his first two starts at 2. Comedero went 5 for 8 last year, among his wins the Mountain Valley at Oaklawn and the $400,000 Red Legend at Charles Town.

He has now won 9 of 13 starts and $578,300. Stidham said Comedero would be based at Delaware Park, and could see stakes competition this summer at Saratoga.

Comedero paid $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10 as the heavy favorite, creating a $40,140 minus show pool.