Racer, Weast Hill will meet again in Arkansas Breeders' Stakes

Racer pulled off arguably the biggest upset in Arkansas-bred racing in the last three years when he won the $100,000 Nodouble Stakes over Weast Hill on Saturday at Oaklawn Park. Weast Hill had won his prior seven local starts, a streak that began in 2015.

Now, the horses are headed for a rematch in the $100,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes on April 8 at Oaklawn, their trainers said.

Racer took the Nodouble in wire-to-wire fashion, capitalizing on a sharp break under Jon Court and playing catch me if you can with Weast Hill.

“That was the only way to beat that horse,” said Tim Martin, who trains Racer. “Jon Court won that race.”

Martin said Racer had trained exceptionally well into the Nodouble, a race in which he covered six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.22. For the effort, Racer earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 86.

Racer, owned by Val Yagos, will be moving back to two turns for the first time this year in the 1 1/16-mile Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes.

“He was a route horse last year,” Martin said. “This year, he’s been sprinting real good, but we want to run him long. I think he’s better going long. That was our plan.”

Weast Hill will be looking to win the Arkansas Breeders’ for the second straight year. Trainer Brad Cox said the horse emerged from the Nodouble in good order. Weast Hill finished 1 1/4 lengths back and earned an 83 Beyer.

“He’s fine,” Cox said. “He just couldn’t get to that horse. No excuses. Just second-best that day.”

The Arkansas Breeders’ is the meet’s final Arkansas-bred stakes opportunity available to older horses.