Remembering Rita holds pace advantage over truer-stayer Campaign

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Campaign might have to run down Remembering Rita to win the $125,000 Temperence Hill on Friday at Oaklawn Park.

The horses have contrasting styles and figure to start as the top two choices in the 1 1/2-mile race for 4-year-olds and up. The Temperence Hill is new to the schedule and has drawn a field of 10.

Campaign is picking up more ground off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap on Feb. 17 at Oaklawn. He closed from 11th in the mile and a sixteenth race, won wire to wire by Warrior’s Charge.

“He really came flying at the end,” said John Sadler, who trains Campaign for Woodford Racing. “If you look at his form, he’s got two [stakes] wins on him at a mile and a half. He’s a true stayer.”

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Last year, Campaign won the Grade 3 Tokyo City in April at Santa Anita and came back to capture the Grade 3 Cougar II during Del Mar last July, with both races at 1 1/2 miles. Rafael Bejarano was aboard for both wins and has the mount again Friday from post 10.

“It worked out because Bejarano is going to Kentucky for Saturday and was able to stop in here,” said Sadler.

Remembering Rita will be looking to win beyond a mile an eighth for the first time, but might have a tactical advantage as the controlling speed in the Temperence Hill.

“I just kind of glanced at it, and he sure looks like the pace of the race,” trainer Doug Anderson said Tuesday. “But he’s a horse that does not have to have the lead. If someone wants to go out there and wing-ding it, he can sit off of it.”

Remembering Rita, who won the Grade 3 Cornhusker over a mile and an eighth in 2018, comes off a local allowance win at 1 1/8 miles Feb. 21 at Oaklawn. He set the pace and went on to a 3 3/4-length win. The Beyer Speed Figure of 95 that he earned is the best last-race number in the Temperence Hill.

“The way he ran last time – broke out there and kind of had everything his own way – he sure acted like he could go on further that day,” Anderson said.

Joe Talamo was aboard, and has the mount again Friday from post 7.

“Joe said it sure didn’t seem like he was getting tired at all,” said Anderson.

Remembering Rita races for Jeral Adams.

Other leading contenders Friday are Tone Broke and Sky Promise.

Tone Broke won two-thirds of the Canadian Triple Crown last year, including the Breeders’ Stakes at a mile and a half on turf. Sky Promise became the first horse to sweep the three major 3-year-old stakes in Western Canada in 2018, including the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at a mile and three-eighths at Northlands Park.