Oaklawn Park: Fan favorite Win Willy returns from layoff in Friday feature

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Win Willy has been one of the more popular horses to race at Oaklawn Park ever since he pulled a 56-1 upset over early Kentucky Derby favorite Old Fashioned in the 2009 Rebel. He added to his local lore in 2011, when he closed from last to win the Oaklawn Handicap over Misremembered.

Win Willy will be back for more on Friday, when he launches his 8-year-old season in the eighth race. The optional $100,000 claimer will be run at a mile, and the field of six includes stakes winners Stachys, Donoharm, and Mavericking. Right to Vote, a candidate to wire the field, and Joy Boy, who has placed in four stakes, add further depth to the race that could produce starters for the $100,000 Essex Handicap on Feb. 15.

Win Willy has resonated with the public for a number of different reasons. One is his Silky Sullivan running style. Another is simply his appearance.

“I think people like big, pretty grays,” said Mac Robertson, who trains the horse for Jer-Mar Stables.

Win Willy’s popularity also can be attributed to his gameness. He’s won seven stakes and run second or third in nine others during a career in which he has gone 11 for 32, with earnings of $1,015,437.

“He runs hard in defeat,” Robertson said. “Most horses get softened up with tough competition. He’s taken a lot of punches and come back for more. Even when he gets beat, he’s running against the best and comes back for more. Most horses don’t. Their confidence shrinks when they get beat.”

Win Willy was a stakes winner in his last start, the $50,250 Joseph French Memorial at Delaware Park that put him over $1 million in earnings. He closed for a 1 3/4-length win in the June 1 race.

“He ran real hard his last race, was worn out, and we gave him a long break,” Robertson said. “We turned him out for four, five months. He was running around pretty good, and we put him back in training at Delaware. I worked him a couple of times there, and he worked well, and we figured we’d run him through at least the Oaklawn meet.”

Win Willy has banked more than $700,000 at Oaklawn. The horse, who won his career debut at Canterbury in August 2008, will break from post 6 on Friday, under Seth Martinez.

“If the track is really tiring, maybe he needs one,” Robertson said. “But maybe not. He’s been strong in his training.”