Oaklawn Park: Right to Vote holds off shippers in Essex Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – There were no takers when Right to Vote was offered for a claiming price of $100,000 last month at Oaklawn Park. He won that day, and on Saturday he took down a $100,000 stakes race, holding off shippers Street Spice and Voodoo Storm in the Essex Handicap run before an ontrack crowd of 22,965.

Right to Vote won by a half-length over Street Spice, while it was a neck back in third to Voodoo Storm. With the win, Right to Vote put himself under consideration for the Grade 3, $200,000 Razorback Handicap on March 15.

“We’re from Arkansas, want to run in Arkansas, and if we can run in a race called the Razorback, that’s what we want to do,” Ron Moquett, who trains Right to Vote for BJD Thoroughbreds, said of the race named after the University of Arkansas mascot.

Right to Vote ($8.80) tracked the pace set by Jaguar Paw, who rode the rail through fractions of 24.02 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.70 for the half-mile. Right to Vote overtook that rival, resisted when challenged near the quarter pole, and then fought through the stretch to cover the 1 1/16 miles on a track rated fast in 1:44.84.

Ricardo Santana Jr. rode Right to Vote, a 5-year-old gelding by Political Force.

Right to Vote picked up $60,000 for his win in the Essex, his sixth career victory from 18 starts. He has now earned $345,124. Right to Vote was bred in Kentucky by Gulf Coast Farms and Pollock Farms.

King Cotton: Big comeback for Apprehender

In his first start in nine months, Apprehender drove to a half-length win over Alsvid in the $100,000 King Cotton. The six-furlong race was originally scheduled for Feb. 8, but winter weather forced its postponement and trainer Chris Richard, who did not enter the horse the first time around, opted for the rescheduled race. Apprehender, who won the King Cotton a year ago, had last raced in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 13.

“His class showed today,” said David Mello, who was aboard for Dream Farm LLC.

Apprehender ($18.80) stalked the pace, made a four-wide bid to the fore approaching the quarter pole, battled in upper stretch, and then held off Alsvid, who was part of a favored entry with Black Bear. The winner covered the distance in 1:10.19.

“Coming around the turn, I knew I had some horse,” Mello said. “I knew if he gave me what I thought I had, he would get there.”

Apprenhender had been sidelined by a bone chip in his knee that was diagnosed after he was pulled up in last year’s Count Fleet. Richard said the horse will be considered for the $100,000 Hot Springs on March 8.

Apprehender is a 5-year-old gelding by Posse bred in Kentucky by Jayeff B Stables. Apprehender is out of the Grade 1-winning mare Missy’s Mirage.