Oaklawn Park: Speedinthruthecity scores as Carousel favorite

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Speedinthruthecity comfortably held off a stretch bid from Ms Anna Destiny for a three length win in the $100,000 Carousel at Oaklawn Park on Sunday. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Itsallinthefamily.

Aireofdistinction, who was seeking her fifth straight win, finished fifth in the race that was run on a sloppy, sealed track.

The Carousel, at six furlongs for fillies and mares, continued the annual Racing Festival of the South stakes series at Oaklawn. Speedinthruthecity ($4) stalked the early pace set by Livi Makenzie, who took the field through an opening quarter in 22.51 seconds. Itsallinthefamily took over through a half-mile in 46.10 as Speedinthruthecity launched a four-wide move coming to the quarter pole, and then rolled down the center of the track to cover the distance in 1:10.36.

“She handled the going really well,” said Steve Asmussen, who won the Carousel for the sixth time in his career Sunday.

Luis Quinonez was aboard the winner, who races for Winchell Thoroughbreds. It was the first stakes win for Speedinthruthecity, who had previously placed in a pair of Grade 3 stakes, including the Azalea two starts back at Calder.

Speedinthruthecity is a 4-year-old by City Zip and was bred in Kentucky by Joe Parker.

Asmussen’s other Carousel winners have been Little Sister in 1998; Eternal Cup (2004); Savorthetime (2005); Platinum Princess (2006); and Vuitton (2013).