Oaklawn Park: Hang Cool brings exceptional talent to Friday allowance

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hang Cool showed significant talent in his career debut last year, beating winners at 6 1/2 furlongs, a demanding distance for a first start. He will attempt to build on the performance Friday at Oaklawn Park in a first-level allowance sprint that drew 11 horses, including the stakes-placed Titletown Five and Call Me Kelly, who has been racing in California.

Hang Cool, now 4, shortens up to six furlongs for what will be his first race since he won a first-level allowance at Remington Park on Oct. 30. He dominated by five lengths while covering 6 1/2 furlongs in a blazing 1:14.81, which was .41 of a second off the track record.

“And [the rider] was easing him up the last sixteenth,” said Jack Bruner, who trains Hang Cool for his breeder, Tom Durant.

Bruner said debuting Hang Cool in an allowance race was not by design.

“I couldn’t get a maiden special weight to go, and I had to run him,” he said. “We’ve always liked him a lot.”

Hang Cool handled the test and has worked sharply for his next one Friday. His drills at Oaklawn include a pair of five-furlong bullets: 59.80 seconds on Jan. 22 and 1:00.80 on Jan. 31.

“He’s a real smooth, easy-traveling horse, and the further he goes the better he gets,” Bruner said. “He’s got a really, really good way of going.”

Hang Cool is a son of Touch Tone, a winner of the Iowa Derby. Bruner said he felt good about Hang Cool’s fitness until recently, when winter weather forced the cancellation of four straight days of training.

“Ask me that 10 days ago, and I’d be fine,” he said Tuesday, “but after walking five days in a row, I’m a little concerned.”

Luis Quinonez has the mount.

Titletown Five will be making his second start since July, when he was fourth in a first-level allowance at Saratoga. In his return to action Jan. 18, he pressed the pace and finished eighth in a first-level allowance at Oaklawn. D. Wayne Lukas, who co-owns and trains the horse, looks for a move forward Friday.

“It was a comeback race,” he said. “This will be a better one.”

Oaklawn leading rider Noberto Arroyo Jr. has the mount on Titletown Five, whose ownership also includes Green Bay Packers greats Paul Hornung and Willie Davis.