Oaklawn Park: Southwest first step toward Kentucky for Tapiture

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tapiture will be a regular on Oaklawn Park’s road to the Kentucky Derby this spring, with the Grade 2 winner to launch his season Monday in the Southwest Stakes. The Grade 3, $300,000 race is the second stakes in the local series that continues with the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel on March 15 and the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 12.

Tapiture will be making his first start since winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 30. He dominated by 4 1/4 lengths to win his maiden in the KJC, which was his fourth career start. Tapiture earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

“We gave him a break after the Kentucky Jockey Club,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Tapiture for Ron Winchell. “The three races left at Oaklawn Park suit him ideally.”

Tapiture has done most of his leg work for the Southwest at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, but is now based at Oaklawn and was scheduled to have his final work for the race Thursday or Friday, said Asmussen.

“Just a little feel of the track,” he said. “He’s had uninterrupted training in New Orleans. He’s got some great works in him. He’s a willing work horse.”

Asmussen said Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount. Santana has ridden Tapiture in his last three starts, including a close third in the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill on Sept. 7.

The Southwest could have a full gate, depending on how entries go for a first-level allowance route for 3-year-olds that will be offered on the undercard Monday.

“I expect the Southwest to be between 10 and 12 [horses],” said Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope, “and if the allowance doesn’t fill, 14. And we will run 14.”

The Southwest field is also expected to include Strong Mandate, winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful; Ride On Curlin, third in the Grade 1 Champagne; Louies Flower, who captured the $250,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park; and Tanzanite Cat, winner of Oaklawn’s first route stakes for 3-year-olds, the $150,000 Smarty Jones.

The Southwest, which offers its winner 10 preference points for the Kentucky Derby, will be drawn Friday.

Boji Moon eyes Gazebo

Boji Moon, one of the more accomplished 3-year-olds on the grounds, will focus on sprint races. Trainer Chris Richard said Monday the horse is a candidate for the $100,000 Gazebo, a six-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds here on March 22.

Boji Moon, a son of Cactus Ridge, won the Iowa Cradle by 12 1/2 lengths Aug. 3, then came back and captured the Kentucky Downs Juvenile on Sept. 14. His record made him the favorite for the Springboard Mile in December, and after finishing fifth he returned to sprinting in a Feb. 1 allowance at Oaklawn. Boji Moon defeated older horses by 1 1/4 lengths while covering six furlongs in 1:10.80.

“I was ecstatic with his race,” Richard said. “He had been training extremely well going into the race. We ran him in the allowance, against older horses, because the race at Fair Grounds didn’t fill, the Jack Van Berg. So, that kind of left us with nowhere to go.

“The next option was an allowance. We knew we’d have to take on older horses. He showed what a nice horse he is. I think he’s an extremely talented horse.”

Taptowne, Cyber Secret absent from Essex

The field for Saturday’s $100,000 Essex Handicap was drawn Wednesday and there were some notable horses missing from the lineup, led by Cyber Secret and Taptowne, who finished one-two in last year’s Oaklawn Handicap.

Trainer Tim Glyshaw said Taptowne was not entered because he was unable to have his final work for the race due to winter weather that forced the cancellation of training four straight days last week. Glyshaw said the horse remains a candidate for the Grade 3, $200,000 Razorback Handicap here March 15.

The Essex will go with 10, including Win Willy, Stachys, and 118-pound starting highweight Stealcase.

The card also includes the $100,000 King Cotton, a six-furlong race that drew 10, led by Alsvid, Mico Margarita, Anillo, and defending champ Apprehender.

Will Take Charge home at Oaklawn

Will Take Charge, the champion 3-year-old of 2013 who ran second in the Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park last Sunday, arrived back home at his Oaklawn base Wednesday morning, said his trainer, D. Wayne Lukas.

“He shipped beautifully,” said Lukas, who was also pleased with how Will Take Charge physically came out of the Donn.