Quip has no trouble with wet track in Oaklawn Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Running in the rain. Just running in the rain.

Quip handled difficult conditions Saturday when he captured a wet edition of the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap by a neck over Lone Sailor.

The Oaklawn Handicap was the second of three stakes on the Arkansas Derby Day card. It rained on an off throughout the morning and afternoon Saturday and the Oaklawn Handicap was run in the rain, on a sloppy, sealed track. The conditions suited Quip, who tipped off his rider, jockey Jose Ortiz, when warming up on the wet track for the Oaklawn Handicap.

“He was happy, so I was happy,” Ortiz told Oaklawn paddock host Nancy Holthus.

It was a stark contrast from the last time Quip ran on a wet track, when finishing eighth in last year’s Preakness won by eventual Triple Crown hero Justify.

In the Oaklawn Handicap, Quip ($13) broke well and was content to settle in fourth behind Pioneer Spirit, who set fractions of 23.65 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.96 for the half-mile, and 1:11.99 for six furlongs. Quip raced about four lengths off the pace, moved closer to the leader on the final turn, came into the stretch three wide, and accelerated, winning the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:50.21.

“Quip was so game today,” Ortiz said. “When I asked him to go, he switched leads and gave me another drive.”

Lone Sailor put in a determined run through the lane for second, forcing a photo finish.

Following the race, it was clear enough to take a picture outdoors in the new winner's circle and upon completion, the sky opened up again.

Quip earned $450,000 for his win in the Oaklawn Handicap to improve his career record to 4 for 8 for earnings of $942,500. He was winning his second Grade 2 race behind the Tampa Bay Derby. Last year, the horse shipped to Oaklawn and was second in the Arkansas Derby.

Quip is a son of Distorted Humor who races for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International, and SF Racing.