Oaklawn Park: Azeri attracts field of seven

The Rebel Stakes for 3-year-olds will be supported by the Grade 2, $200,000 Azeri and the Grade 3, $200,000 Razorback Handicap on a Saturday card bolstered this year to create a preview day for some of the Racing Festival of the South stakes the final week of the Oaklawn Park meet.

The Azeri drew a field of seven when entries were taken Wednesday. The 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares, designed to produce starters for the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom, will go as the eighth race. It’s the first of the stakes, which will be run consecutively Saturday.

The field, from the rail with riders, is: Close Hatches, Joel Rosario; Magic Union, Jose Lezcano; Dixie Strike, Norberto Arroyo Jr.; Don’t Tell Sophia, Channing Hill; Sister Ginger, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Flashy American, Terry Thompson; and On Fire Baby, Joe Johnson.

The Razorback, for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles and a prep for the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap, will go as the ninth race. The field, from the rail with riders, is: Taptowne, Arroyo; Right to Vote, Calvin Borel; Street Spice, Alex Canchari; Golden Lad, Lezcano; Called to Serve, Santana; Govenor Charlie, Mike Smith; and Majestic City, Rosario.

The Rebel will follow as the 10th race, with a post of 6:04 p.m. Central.

Auction for Derby-Oaks box

A box for the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will be auctioned during Friday night’s Racetrack Chaplaincy benefit gala at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Ark. The Churchill Downs box is in Section 325, Row C, said Jerry Hissam, president of the Arkansas chapter of the Racetrack Chaplaincy and the longtime agent for Borel.

Other items to be auctioned live during the gala, expected to draw 400 people, include a seven-day ticket package for two to a PGA championship tournament at Valhalla in Louisville, Ky., from Aug. 4-10. There are also tickets for the Indianapolis 500 donated by A.J. Foyt and a package of four wine bottles featuring gold-embossed art of Horses of the Year Curlin, Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, and Wise Dan, donated by Kurtis Coady.

“All proceeds go to the Racetrack Chaplaincy at Oaklawn,” Hissam said.

To make arrangements to bid, call Hissam at (502) 648-0886.

Also during the gala, Earlie Fires will receive the fourth annual Garth Patterson Award of Horsemanship.