Oaklawn Park: Majestic Stride being pointed to Count Fleet

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Majestic Stride, who earlier in his career participated in the 3-year-old stakes series at Oaklawn, now has designs on the meet’s biggest race for sprinters. Trainer Jeff Bonde said the Grade 3, $300,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 10 is a goal for Majestic Stride, who last fall was a close fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Bonde, who is based in Southern California, has a division of horses at Oaklawn. He said Majestic Stride is scheduled to make his next start at Santa Anita in the Grade 2, $200,000 Palos Verdes on Feb. 2, then would ship to Hot Springs closer to the Count Fleet. Bonde said his local division comprises a mix of horses.

“We took 12, and they claimed one already,” he said. “We’ve got a little of everything. We’ve got some 3-year-olds. We’ve got horses for conditioned races. We plan to bring horses festival week. Majestic Stride should show up for the Count Fleet.”

Majestic Stride is a winner at Oaklawn, having taken a maiden special weight sprint at the track in 2012. He also ran fifth in a division of the track’s Grade 3 Southwest. Majestic Stride has since developed into a sprinter of note, finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind Secret Circle in last year’s Breeders’ Cup, then returning to win the Grade 3 Vernon O. Underwood at Hollywood Park in his most recent start Nov. 28.

Majestic Stride races for Edward J. Brown Jr., Alan Klein, and Philip Lebherz.