Poseidon’s Way auditions for stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Poseidon’s Way is developing into a promising 3-year-old for Pin Oak Stable and trainer Donnie Von Hemel, and depending on the horse’s performance in Friday’s second race at Oaklawn Park, he could advance to stakes company in the near future.

“I think if he runs well, the Northern Spur, the Lexington, or the Illinois Derby, those might be some places where you could run,” said Von Hemel.

Poseidon’s Way will start Friday as one of the top choices in a competitive 1 1/16-mile allowance for 3-year-olds. The six-horse field also includes Private Prospect, a two-time stakes winner; Oak Brook, a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Giant Oak; and Instant Replay, a sweeping allowance winner in January.

KEY CONTENDERS

Poseidon’s Way (Last 3 Beyers: 77-62-66)

◗ He enters off a two-length entry-level allowance win Feb. 19 at Oaklawn. He was prominent throughout the 1 1/16-mile race, and the 77 Beyer Speed Figure that he earned is the best last-race number in the field Friday.

“I thought his last race was a pretty nice race,” Von Hemel said. “This is another step for us. There’s a couple of horses he hadn’t run with in there. It’s another chance to gain [experience]. He’s run three times and won twice. He needs some seasoning.”

◗ Poseidon’s Way appears to have more natural speed than most of his rivals and could set the tempo or track the pace.

◗ Luis Quinonez has the mount on Poseidon’s Way, a son of Stormy Atlantic and the Smart Strike mare Winsome Ways.

Private Prospect (Last 3 Beyers: 72-84-73)

◗ A graduate of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he’s returning to the overnight ranks for the first time since winning his debut last June at Arlington Park.

◗ Private Prospect is a stakes winner at both one turn and two in races at Prairie Meadows.

◗ Joe Rocco Jr. has the mount for trainer Mike Campbell.

Sugar Shock takes class drop

Sugar Shock, a Grade 3 winner who scratched from last weekend’s Azeri Stakes, goes in the eighth race, an optional $50,000 claimer for fillies and mares at a mile that has also drawn multiple stakes winner Our Quista.

Sugar Shock won the $100,000 American Beauty at six furlongs at Oaklawn in her last start Jan. 24. Since the race, three horses she defeated have won in their next starts, including Spring Included, who captured the $100,000 Spring Fever at Oaklawn. As for Sugar Shock, she breezed here Monday, but due to fog that limited the visibility for clockers, a time for the work could not be published. Sugar Shock’s connections called in a half-mile drill, and clockers were able to catch her final quarter in 24 seconds and her final eighth of a mile in 11.60 seconds.