Pioneerof the West will try to relax early

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Even horses need a change of pace. It’s the reason Pioneerof the West has traveled east from Santa Anita to Oaklawn Park for Friday’s eighth race. The first-level allowance for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles is also open to horses entered for the optional claiming price of $62,500.

Pioneerof the West enters off a pacesetting, third-place finish in the Grade 3 Sham on Jan. 10.

“I wanted to try to get him to a place where he could relax a little bit, not use him so much early,” said Mark Casse, who trains Pioneerof the West. “You have to be up on the pace so much at Santa Anita.”

Pioneerof the West is part of an eight-horse field that includes Distant Kingdom and Vici, both maiden special weight winners at Fair Grounds, and Killingit, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Frost Giant.

The card Friday also includes an appearance by the stakes-winning Arkansas-bred mare Jan’s Perfect Star, who is making her comeback against open company in the seventh race, a second-level optional $40,000 claiming sprint for fillies and mares.

Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Pioneerof the West (Last 3 Beyers: 81-60-73)

◗ He won his maiden on the front end in a one-mile race at Del Mar on Nov. 20, and in his most recent start, he was part of a rapid pace in the Sham before finishing 8 1/2 lengths behind the winner, Calculator.

“We’re going to try to get him to relax a little bit and see how that works for him,” said Casse.

◗ Joe Rocco Jr. has the mount on Pioneerof the West for owner John Oxley.

Distant Kingdom (Last 3 Beyers: 70-76-78)

◗ He won his debut in a maiden special weight sprint and has since run a respective second and fourth in a pair of allowance routes, his latest from the No. 11 hole at Oaklawn.

◗ Calvin Borel has the mount from the rail for Wes Hawley, who co-owns the horse with Robert E. Orth.

Vici (Last 2 Beyers: 73-61)

◗ He won his maiden in his two-turn debut last out at Fair Grounds, where he stalked and rallied for a 1 1/2-length win in a race at a mile and 70 yards Jan. 1.

◗ Vici has been flattered since the race, with two next-out winners emerging, including eighth-place finisher Bluff, who came back to take a maiden special weight at Fair Grounds with a Beyer Speed Figure of 75.

◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for trainer Al Stall Jr.