Oaklawn Park: 'Mallard' brothers clash in Arkansas Breeders' Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Mallard Man and his half-brother Mallard’s Bro who live right next door to each other at Oaklawn Park, will break side-by-side Friday in the $75,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes at Oaklawn.

“It is kind of unique,” said Al Cates, who trains the coupled entry for their breeder, Five Star Racing Stable.

The Mallard Man, who won the inaugural running of the Arkansas Breeders’ in 2011, and Mallard’s Bro, third in the allowance prep, will be part of a 13-horse field. Others set to start in the 1 1/16-mile race restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in Arkansas include Devil and a Half, who is seeking his third straight win in the Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes.

The Mallard Man will be moving back to two turns after winning his first start in six months in a $12,500 claiming sprint for Arkansas-breds on March 14. He was not eligible to be claimed as part of the waiver claiming program for horses returning from layoffs.

“Mallard Man is definitely a two-turn horse, and that’s one reason we’re going in this spot,” Cates said. “He can run short, but his calling is definitely two turns.”

Cates said the partnership of Five Star Racing had considered retiring The Mallard Man, who is now 8. But he trained well into his seasonal debut and was a clear winner under regular rider Calvin Borel.

“Every time they talk about retiring Mallard Man, he must hear it and starts training really good,” said Cates.

Both The Mallard Man and the 4-year-old Mallard’s Bro are from the Bucksplasher mare Y Worry B Happy, who was a stakes winner at 2. The Mallard Man is by Sunday Break, while Mallard’s Bro is by It’s No Joke.

“Mallard Man kind of always had a little bit of an attitude, where his brother is more laid-back,” Cates said. “They’re both real good-looking, put together well. It seems like Mallard’s Bro has a little more size to him. But they are similar in a lot of ways.”

Cates looks for Mallard’s Bro to move forward off his last start Feb. 27.

“He’s training excellent coming into the race, the way you’d want a horse to,” Cates said. “The last race was his first time going two turns in a while, and I’m thinking he might have needed that.”

Since the start, Mallard’s Bro has worked a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.80. He will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr.

◗ Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day will be the keynote speaker during Friday night’s Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association gala in Hot Springs.