Oaklawn Park notes: Porter buys half-interest in Texas Two Step

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farm said he has privately purchased 50 percent interest in Texas Two Step, an impressive 3-year-old debut winner at Oaklawn Park that he will race in partnership with the WinStar Farm operation of Kenny Troutt. Porter on Wednesday said the horse will be shipped to trainer Chad Brown at the Palm Meadows training center in Florida.

Brown trains Normandy Invasion, the fourth-place finisher in last year’s Kentucky Derby, for Porter.

Texas Two Step, a Triple Crown-nominated son of Distorted Humor, launched his career for WinStar and trainer Kellyn Gorder on Feb. 15. He rallied from seventh for a cruising, 2 1/4-length win in a maiden special weight race. Texas Two Step covered six furlongs in 1:11.26 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

“We liked his first race,” Porter said. “Based on what we’ve seen, we’re looking for a bright future.”

Porter said in talking to bloodstock agent Tom McGreevy, who on behalf of Porter inspected Texas Two Step at Oaklawn on Tuesday, as well as Elliott Walden, president and racing manager for WinStar, he feels Texas Two Step is the “classic, two-turn horse that we’re looking for.”

Porter said plans for Texas Two Step’s campaign are to be determined, as the horse’s schedule will be discussed with both WinStar and Brown. Porter has raced other horses in partnership with WinStar, including multiple Grade 3 winner Honest Man.

“Everybody at WinStar and Fox Hill gets along,” Porter said. “We have a good relationship, and that’s part of the deal.”

Texas Two Step is out of the Unbridled mare Miss Salsa.

Bourbon Courage’s next start

Grade 2 winner Bourbon Courage, fourth in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in his most recent start Feb. 9, has shipped to Oaklawn and will be considered for the Grade 3, $200,000 Razorback Handicap on March 15, said his trainer, Gorder.

“We’re looking at the Razorback,” Gorder said. “We think he’ll like the racetrack. We’ll see how he works over it.”

Prior to the Donn, Bourbon Courage was third in the $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday, also at Gulfstream.

“Those races that he ran down there at Gulfstream, they broke the track record in both races,” Gorder said.

Bourbonize eyes Rebel

Gorder said Bourbonize, a sharp allowance winner who was sixth in the Grade 3 Southwest, will advance to the Grade 2 Rebel here March 15. “I think he ran pretty well despite missing 10 days of training [due to the weather],” Gorder said. “He came out of the race in good shape. He’s training well, and we’ll kind of stay the course and shoot for the next one in line, the Rebel.”

◗ Red River Rising, a maiden special weight route winner at Oaklawn, is being pointed for the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway on Saturday, said Gorder.