Pioneer Spirit, Guest Suite account for divisions of Fifth Season

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The estimated crowd of 30,000 that turned out for the first Saturday card of the Oaklawn Park meet were treated to exciting finishes from winners Pioneer Spirit and Guest Suite in both $100,000 divisions of the Fifth Season and a powerful victory from Whoa Nellie in the $100,000 Pippin.

The three stakes were featured on a beautiful afternoon for racing – and a popular one. Patrons in the packed facility were treated to fifty-cent corned beef sandwiches and ten-cent sodas and lots of competitive racing.

Pioneer Spirit ($7.40) won his third straight race – and second stakes – when he held for a head win over a fast-closing Bankit in the second division of the Fifth Season. Pioneer Spirit was always prominent, dueling through an opening quarter in 23.68 seconds and proceeding to set fractions of 47.75 for the half-mile and 1:13.04 for six furlongs. Pioneer Spirit covered the mile on a track upgraded to good in 1:38.94.

Mocito Rojo ran third, finishing three lengths behind Bankit.

Orlando Mojica was aboard Pioneer Spirit for Lawrence Roman, Heads Up Stables, and Lucky Dog Stables. The horse, who was a $150,000 claim out of a winning race Nov. 2 at Churchill, won the $75,000 Tenacious one start later at Fair Grounds. Trainer Robertino Diodoro then targeted the son of Malibu Moon for the Fifth Season.

Guest Suite ($24.40) caught Snapper Sinclair late to win the second division of the Fifth Season by a neck. It was another 1 1/4 lengths to Night Ops in third. Guest Suite covered the mile on a muddy, sealed track in 1:39.18. Walter De La Cruz rode the winner for trainer Cipriano Contreras, who co-owns the horse with David Rodriguez. Guest Suite is a Grade 3-winning son of Quality Road.

Whoa Nellie ($6.60) closed from next to last for a 4 1/2-length win in the Pippin for fillies and mares. Special Relativity finished second, a length in front of third-place finisher Cairenn. Whoa Nellie covered the mile on a track upgraded to good in 1:39.50. Joe Rocco Jr. was aboard the daughter of Orb for Fox Hill Farms and trainer Larry Jones.

The three mile races all ended at the sixteenth pole. Racing resumes Sunday.