Red Route One will be charging late in Bath House Row Stakes
?q=100)
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Red Route One established himself as one of the top 3-year-olds this meet at Oaklawn Park. He doesn’t have a stakes win to show for his efforts but that could change Saturday in the $200,000 Bath House Row Stakes.
The 1 1/8-mile race offers its winner a berth in the Preakness Stakes, provided the horse is nominated to the Triple Crown. Red Route One is part of a field of nine that includes Victory Formation, the winner of the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn; Tapit Shoes, who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Cyberknife; and Two Eagles River, an allowance winner and the pacesetter in the Arkansas Derby.
Red Route One finished a closing sixth in the Arkansas Derby after running second in both the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes won by Arabian Knight and the Grade 2 Rebel won by Confidence Game.
Red Route One on Saturday will break from post 4 under Joel Rosario.
“It’s a good opportunity – straight 3-year-olds going a mile and an eighth,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “Obviously, we were disappointed with his Arkansas Derby. We felt he’s capable of better and didn’t get it.”
Red Route One showed talent last year when he ran third to eventual champion Forte in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He also was a close fourth in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs before a 3-year-old campaign in which he closed from the clouds in both the Southwest and Rebel.
Two Eagles River, Victory Formation, and Powerful could set an honest pace up front for Red Route One.
Victory Formation has won three of his four career starts, with his victories coming on the front end. Luis Saez has the mount for trainer Brad Cox.
Cox also sends out Tapit Shoes, who could get an ideal stalking trip under Kent Desormeaux. The son of Tapit is moving to 1 1/8 miles for the first time, a distance Cyberknife won over for Cox in last year’s Arkansas Derby and Haskell Invitational.
Interlock Empire, who was a late nominee to the Triple Crown, was a maiden winner here in March. The race has since produced four next-out winners. David Cabrera has the mount from the rail for trainer Kenny McPeek.
Interlock Empire is one of five horses in the field who will be adding Lasix after racing without the diuretic in points races for the Kentucky Derby.
◗ Klassy Bridgette will make her two-turn debut in the $150,000 Valley of the Vapors, which is for 3-year-old fillies at a mile.
Merlazza will get good support off a first-level allowance route win at Fair Grounds, while T Max is back on dirt and back at two turns. It was under those conditions that she ran second to Hoosier Philly in the Rags to Riches last fall at Churchill Downs.
Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount on T Max for trainer William Walden, while Rosario rides Merlazza for Cox.
Klassy Bridgette will break from post 4 under Francisco Arrieta, who is aboard for trainer Chris Hartman.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.