Obliteration has no problem with Renaissance Stakes
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Obliteration launched a four-wide move around the turn and cruised home for a 7 1/2-length win over Swung in the $150,000 Renaissance on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.
It was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third to Dirty Rich.
The Renaissance was a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds. It was one of two high-end races supporting the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, a Kentucky Derby points race that was to have been run later on the card. The Commodore, an overnight stakes, was to have been held right before the Smarty Jones.
Obliteration ($3.40) stumbled at the start in the Renaissance and stalked Dirty Rich through an opening quarter in 22.10 seconds. Obliteration then circled his rivals on the turn, took the lead through a half-mile in 45.86 seconds, and went on to win in hand in 1:10.03.
The track was fast on an overcast afternoon at Oaklawn.
Joel Rosario was aboard Obliteration for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Obliteration was moving back to dirt after a series of turf stakes, culminating with a good fourth in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Oct. 31 at Del Mar.
Earlier in his career, Obliteration won his maiden and the Grade 3 Sanford on dirt, with the maiden special weight score coming at Churchill Downs and the stakes win at Saratoga.
Obliteration is a son of Violence who races for Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe and John Cilia. He has now won 3 of 7 starts and has compiled career earnings of $593,550.
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