Oaklawn's Nodouble a homecoming for Comedero

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Comedero is coming home, and what a homecoming it will be for the Arkansas-bred sprinter, who won five stakes last year between Oaklawn, Pimlico, and Charles Town.

He will start as a short-priced favorite Saturday in the $50,000 Nodouble at Oaklawn, and later the same evening will be recognized as the 2010 Arkansas-bred of the year during a downtown gala put on by the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association.

The Nodouble, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Arkansas, will be the first start since October for Comedero. He will face five others in the race, and in his final prep for his return he breezed a half-mile in a bullet 47.40 seconds Monday at Fair Grounds.

“He just did it really easy,” said Michael Stidham, who trains Comedero for Peter Redekop. “I think he’s ready to go.”

Comedero accomplished a lot last year at 3, launching his season at Oaklawn with wins in the $50,000 Mountain Valley and $50,000 Rainbow. He proceeded to win the $100,000 Blue N Gold at Charles Town in April, the Grade 3 Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico in May, and the $400,000 Red Legend back at Charles Town in June.

Comedero will come into the Nodouble off nearly a six-month layoff, as his last start came at Parx Racing on Oct. 9, when he finished fourth in the $250,000 Gallant Bob.

“He had a real hard year and we wanted to give him some time and freshen him up and get ready for his 4-year-old year,” Stidham said of the layoff. “He’s definitely filled out a little bit and matured as a 4-year-old. He looks great and is doing really well. We’re excited about getting this campaign started.”

Comedero, whose wins have come on the front end, will break from post 3 under Robby Albarado. The race’s other speed, Heza Rainbow and Ile St. Roy, are situated to his inside. Stidham said Comedero’s campaign this year will be shaped by how he performs early on.

“He’ll be stabled at Delaware Park and from there are a lot of options up and down the East Coast,” he said, noting that with the right kind of efforts Comedero could see action this summer at Saratoga.

Comedero, who is a son of Posse, is 8 for 12 in his career. He has earned $548,300.

◗ The Arkansas Breeders’ for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles did not fill for Saturday.