Razorback Handicap should be hot racing on cold weekend

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The Oaklawn meet kicks into high gear this holiday weekend, with the running of the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback Handicap on Saturday and the anticipated appearance of champions Monomoy Girl and Essential Quality in Monday stakes.

Monomoy Girl is scheduled to launch her season in the Grade 3, $250,000 Bayakoa, while stablemate Essential Quality will hunt Kentucky Derby points in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest. Those stakes, along with the Razorback, are the first graded offerings of the meet at Oaklawn.

And while the racing action looks white hot, the forecast is frigid. The Weather Channel is calling for a high of 37 degrees Saturday, with temperatures in the teens overnight. The forecast for Monday is a high of 42 degrees, a low of 26, and a 47 percent chance of precipitation. Forecasters are calling for snow that turns to rain.

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Mr Freeze, appropriately, was one of seven older horses entered in the Razorback. The multiple Grade 2 winner of $1.5 million will break from post 4 under David Cohen. The complete field from the rail with riders is: Owendale, Joel Rosario; Silver Prospector, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Mystic Guide, Luis Saez; Mr Freeze, Cohen; Long Range Toddy, Jon Court; Wells Bayou, Martin Garcia; and Coastal Defense, David Cabrera.

Wells Bayou is cross-entered in the Mineshaft at Fair Grounds on Saturday.

The 10-race card here Saturday also includes the $150,000 Dixie Belle for 3-year-old fillies that drew six led by Abrogate. A winner of both of her starts, she will break from post 4 under Ricardo Santana Jr.

Entries for both the Southwest and Bayakoa will be drawn Thursday.