Rattlesnake Holler wins maiden in Rainbow Stakes at Oaklawn

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Rattlesnake Holler won his maiden in the $50,000 Rainbow at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, when he overtook pacesetter Ile St. Roy nearing the wire in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds bred in Arkansas.

Rattlesnake Holler ($46.80) raced in fifth early under Eddie Razo, as Ile St. Roy led the field through fractions of 21.87 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.48 for the half-mile. Rattlesnake Holler advanced four wide around the turn, dug in through the stretch, and won by a head in 1:11.05.
It was the fifth career start for Rattlesnake Holler, who added blinkers for Saturday.

“Everybody who rides him told me to put blinkers on and he’ll win,” trainer David Whited said of the equipment change.

Rattlesnake Holler came into the race off a third-place finish in a maiden special weight for Arkansas-breds on Feb. 13. He picked up $30,000 for the win for the partnership of Sanders Brothers, which also bred Rattlesnake Holler. Sanders Brothers raced Rattlesnake Holler’s dam, Impetuous Molly, who won both the Rainbow Miss at Oaklawn and the Lady Razorback Futurity at Louisiana Downs.

Whited said next-race plans for Rattlesnake Holler have yet to be determined. The horse is a son of Hesabull.

Codes Diamond finished third, a length behind Ile St. Roy.

* Attendance on Saturday was 15,925.