Operation Stevie stretches back out in deep optional claimer

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Operation Stevie will be chasing after the 16th win of his career Sunday when he meets fellow stakes winners Exulting, Timeline, Colonelsdarktemper, Mister Banjoman, and Chris and Dave in the featured eighth race at Oaklawn Park.

“The race is tough,” said Cipriano Contreras, who trains Operation Stevie. “There’s a lot of nice horses in there.”

The feature is an optional $62,500 claiming race at a mile for 4-year-olds and up. It could produce starters for the $250,000 Oaklawn Mile here April 11, a race won last year by Exulting.

Operation Stevie is stretching back out around two turns after a fast-closing third in an optional $75,000 claiming race over six furlongs Feb. 15 at Oaklawn. He was beaten a neck in the race, which went in a quick 1:09.48, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 92 that he earned is the best last-race number in the field Sunday.

“He’s better on a deeper track,” Contreras said. “I don’t think distance makes a whole lot of difference for him – maybe a mile is his better distance. A deep track, coming from off the pace, that’s when he runs his best races.”

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Operation Stevie will break from post 10.

“That’s a bad deal,” Contreras said of the wide gate going a mile.

Walter De La Cruz, who was aboard Operation Stevie last out, has the mount again Sunday.

Operation Stevie long has been a top Indiana-bred. He’s won three statebred stakes in his career, and overall is 15 for 51 for earnings of $669,998. In 12 starts at Oaklawn, Operation Stevie has 3 wins, 2 seconds and 3 thirds. Operation Stevie is an 8-year-old gelding by Lantana Mob, and he races for Contreras Stable and Earl Trostrud Jr.

“He goes short, he goes long, and it seems like the tougher the competition the tougher he runs,” Contreras said. “He’s a nice little horse.”

Exulting must overcome post 11 on Sunday. Last year he was a length winner of the inaugural Oaklawn Mile and earned a career-high Beyer of 96. Trainer Mike Maker has given the mount to Ramon Vazquez. Exulting races for Michael Hui, Hooties Racing, and WSS Racing.

Another leading contender in the field Sunday is M G Warrior, who is coming off a runner-up finish to Grade 3 winner Remembering Rita in an allowance at Oaklawn. He adds blinkers, which is a high-percentage move for trainer Brad Cox. M G Warrior will break from the rail under Joe Talamo.