Parchment Party returns to take Temperence Hill over Jokestar

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Parchment Party launched a three-wide bid on the third and final turn of the $200,000 Temperence Hill Stakes on Saturday and kept going for a half-length win over Jokestar in the 1 1/2 miles marathon at Oaklawn Park. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Forged Steel.

The Temperence Hill was the first stakes on the Arkansas Derby Day card that also featured the Grade 3, $500,000 Oaklawn Mile and an overnight stakes, the $135,000 American Pharoah. The infield was open on a sunny afternoon in the 50s, with a large crowd on hand for the meet’s signature race, the Arkansas Derby.

Parchment Party ($4) was returning to both the United States and dirt for the Temperence Hill after a Nov. 4 trip overseas to run in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. He finished 20th in the two-mile turf race after winning back-to-back dirt marathon stakes at Saratoga, the Grade 3 Belmont Gold Cup at the Birdstone.

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Parchment Party settled along the rail in the early stages Saturday as Forged Steel set the pace. Forged Steel put up fractions of 26.10 seconds for the opening quarter, 51.63 for the half-mile, 1:17.32 for six furlongs and 1:43.28 for the mile.

He continued on through 1 1/4 miles in 2:07.68 as Parchment Paper advanced on the final turn and got past the leader in the later stages to cover the distance on a fast track in 2:33.43.

Luis Saez was aboard the winner for trainer Bill Mott.

Parchment Party is a son of Constitution who races for Pin Oak Stud. He has now won 5 of 13 starts for earnings of $593,985.

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