Oaklawn Park notes: Sheltowee’s Boy to either Rebel or Spiral

Sheltowee’s Boy is to make his next start in either the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel at Oaklawn on March 15 or the Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral at Turfway Park on March 22, trainer Brad Cox said Friday. The winner of a first-level allowance at Oaklawn on Feb. 17, Sheltowee’s Boy rallied from 11 lengths back in the one-mile race to earn a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

“He stepped up the other day,” Cox said. “He ran well. They went a little quick up front, which was good for the way he runs.

“I think he’ll go a mile and a sixteenth, a mile and an eighth. I don’t think it will be a problem.”

Sheltowee’s Boy’s performance in the Rebel, which is run at 1 1/16 miles, or the Spiral, at 1 1/8 miles, will dictate whether owner Sheltowee Farm makes the horse a late nominee to the Triple Crown.

“His next race will decide whether we do that,” Cox said. “We’re going to kind of let him tell us if he needs to be nominated with his next race. He deserves a shot now. He deserves an opportunity to play with the big boys now, and we’ll see where we stand with him.”

Sheltowee’s Boy won his career debut in a maiden special weight sprint at Indiana Downs in September. He proceeded to run fourth in a Churchill Downs allowance Nov. 21 and finished second in an Oaklawn allowance Jan. 10 before his three-quarter-length win Feb. 17. He is a son of Nobiz Like Shobiz.

Brewing eyes Gazebo

Brewing, a 3-year-old who put up a Beyer of 92 winning a maiden special weight sprint last month at Oaklawn, is headed for stakes competition. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Friday that the horse is a candidate for the $100,000 Gazebo here March 22.

The Gazebo is a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds.

Brewing set quick fractions and finished with authority when he won his maiden at six furlongs Feb. 22. He took the field through an opening half-mile in 44.80 seconds, then went on to cover the distance in 1:10.60.

Brewing races for Zayat Stable.

* Big Lute, one of the most impressive debut winners of the meet a year ago at Oaklawn, launches his 4-year-old season in Sunday’s eighth race, a money allowance at six furlongs. Other top contenders in the field include Justa Runner.

* Sunday’s seventh race, a maiden special weight at six furlongs, has drawn 3-year-old half-brothers to My Miss Aurelia, Itsmyluckyday, Force Freeze, and Elusive Diva.