Oaklawn Park: Sprint feature sets up well for closer Rivers Run Deep

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Cody Autrey will have notable 3-year-old action on two fronts Sunday, when he sends out Tanzanite Cat in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby and Rivers Run Deep in the feature at his base track of Oaklawn Park.

Oaklawn’s eighth race is a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds at six furlongs that carries an optional-claiming price of $75,000. The field of nine also includes D’cajun Cat, the third-place finisher in the $58,000 Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds in December, and Benny Time, who started his career in California.

Rivers Run Deep is a closer who lands in a field that appears to have an abundance of speed. He rallied from next-to-last to finish second in a first-level allowance last out at Oaklawn, and earlier in his career won his debut at Del Mar with a closing kick. Rivers Run Deep also established his class last year, when he was second in the $75,000 Kip Deville at Remington Park.

Rivers Run Deep will break from post 4 under Francisco Torres, who takes over for Norberto Arroyo Jr., who is in New Mexico to ride Tanzanite Cat. Both horses race for James and Ywachetta Driver.

Rivers Run Deep, a son of Ready’s Image, could get a decent pace setup behind the likes of Bagg O’Day, a front-running maiden special weight winner last out at Oaklawn; Glacket Too, who also wired maiden allowance rivals in his most recent start at Fair Grounds; and Benny Time, who set the pace and finished fourth in the same first-level allowance as Rivers Run Deep. D’cajun Cat also has natural speed, which he showed last out on the cutback from a mile, when he was the runner-up in an optional $50,000 claimer at Oaklawn.

The card Sunday also includes a first-level optional $50,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. A competitive group will go, including Redgrass Cat, a route stakes winner last year at Louisiana Downs who missed by a neck at a similar level at Oaklawn in her most recent start Feb. 20. Jareth Loveberry has the mount for Paul Rigali Jr. and trainer Allen Milligan.

The field also drew Mufajaah, a $375,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland in September 2012. A daughter of Tapit and the Grade 2-winning mare Carolyn’s Cat, Mufajaah will be making her two-turn debut following a six-furlong maiden special weight win at Oaklawn. Joe Johnson has the mount for Shadwell Stable and trainer Dan Peitz.