Oaklawn Park: Drogue dominant in Fifth Season Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Drogue and trainer Mike Johnson registered the first stakes wins of their careers Saturday at Oaklawn Park, where Drogue defeated his well-regarded entrymate, Cyber Secret, in the $100,000 Fifth Season.

Drogue pulled clear by nine lengths over Cyber Secret, and it was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Stealcase in third.

Attendance for the second day of the Oaklawn meet was 16,917.

The entry of Drogue ($3) and Cyber Secret was favored at 1-2 on the strength of Cyber Secret’s track-record performance in the $50,000 Prairie Bayou at Turfway Park on Dec. 21. Drogue entered off a one-length win in a $62,500 optional claimer at Churchill Downs and always was prominent in the Fifth Season to win his third straight race. Jockey Calvin Borel was aboard for owner Charles Cella.

“I had a good trip,” Borel said. “He put me where I wanted to be, and he just came on home.”

Drogue moved to the rail soon after the start of the Fifth Season and tracked Joy Boy and Jaguar Paw through an opening quarter in 23.65 seconds. Drogue advanced through a half-mile in 48.28, took over through six furlongs in 1:14.10, and shuttled home to cover 1 1/16 miles on a good track in 1:47.91.

“I think he’s getting better with age,” Borel said.

Johnson said Drogue worked well in his final prep for the Fifth Season, and he felt that if he were to run back to that drill, he would be tough to handle Saturday. He said the horse likely would make his next start n the $100,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn on Feb. 15.

“I think we’ll move on to the next one,” Johnson said. “I think he showed he could stick with those kind of horses. He beat a very, very good bunch today.”

Johnson, 37, is a former assistant to trainer Pete Vestal. His first win as a trainer came at Louisiana Downs in 2007.