Piece of Work facing Arkansas-breds in allowance

Piece of Work was one of two impressive Arkansas-bred debut winners trainer Allen Milligan sent out this past fall and on Thursday the 3-year-old will make his first start in his home state in the featured seventh race at Oaklawn Park.

Piece of Work goes in a money allowance for Arkansas-breds, with the six-furlong race boasting a purse of $86,000. It’s the richest offering on a nine-race card that includes a $25,000 starter allowance for fillies and mares that drew stakes winner Pretty Greeley, who is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl on Dec. 14 at Gulfstream Park.

Piece of Work will be facing both winners and older rivals for the first time in the allowance for 3-year-olds and up that drew 12. The group assembled includes a number of individuals that could see action in some of the meet’s stakes races for Arkansas-breds – the $125,000 Nodouble Breeders’ at six furlongs March 28, the $125,000 Rainbow for 3-year-olds April 17, and the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship on May 1.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Piece of Work, by Laurie’s Rocket
Beyer: 73

◗ He established himself as one of the top prospects for the Rainbow when he won a maiden special weight by 6 1/2 lengths on Nov. 15 at Remington Park. He led throughout in the 11-horse field and for the effort earned a Beyer of 73.

◗ The start gives Piece of Work recency on a number of his rivals, as eight in the field are returning from layoffs of nearly four months or more Thursday.

◗ Piece of Work also has more natural speed than a number of his rivals, and his turn of foot could help keep him up out of trouble in the large field.

◗ Piece of Work additionally owns one of the field’s best Beyer Figures.

◗ On a pedigree point, he is a half-brother to Balance the Budget, a three-time winner on the flat who became a Grade 1-winning steeplechase horse. Balance the Budget has earned $416,305.

◗ Luis Quinonez has the mount on Piece of Work from post 8 for JRita Young Thoroughbreds.

Whenthedovescry, by Got the Goods
Last 3 Beyers: 74-66-71

◗ He has an age edge on Piece of Work as a 5-year-old and has more win experience than most in the field with four career victories.

◗ Whenthedovescry, who spent the summer at Laurel, has a start at the current Oaklawn meet, finishing third against $16,000 starter-allowance rivals on Jan. 25 in his first out since August.

◗ Walter De La Cruz has the mount for Ten Strike Racing and trainer Shea Stuart.