Oaklawn: Stachys eyes Oaklawn Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Stachys, a four-time stakes winner who won an allowance route here Thursday in his first start since August, is a candidate for the Grade 2, $350,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 14, trainer Mike Biehler said on Friday.

“That would be our goal,” he said.

“The Razorback is too quick back, so we’ll sit on him.”

Stachys, who was fourth in last year’s Oaklawn Handicap, defeated four other stakes winners on Thursday. For his 1 1/4-length win he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91. Stachys had not raced since finishing fourth in the $50,000 John Bullit at Canterbury on Aug. 14.

“He needed to be freshened up,” said Biehler, noting the horse had done a good deal of traveling to race. Stachys, who is 5, has won stakes at Assiniboia Downs in Manitoba, Canada, Canterbury in Minnesota, Prairie Meadows in Iowa, and Zia Park in New Mexico.