Riptide Rock ready to roll in second two-turn try

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Riptide Rock looks like an Ontario-bred to keep tabs on this season at Oaklawn Park.

The son of Point of Entry will be making his second start of the meet in Friday’s sixth race, an allowance for 3-year-olds. The mile and a sixteenth route, which carries an optional claiming price of $62,500, also drew Triple Crown nominees Kinetic Sky and Notary.

Oaklawn’s card on Friday also features a conditioned allowance for fillies and mares over a mile and a sixteenth. It goes as the eighth and has a claiming option of $75,000. The field of eight is led by stakes winners Vault, Piece of My Heart, and Mucho Amor.

Riptide Rock made both his two-turn and dirt debut Feb. 11 at Oaklawn and finished second by a half-length in the first-level allowance. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80, which is the best career number in the six-horse field Friday.

“He ran a really good race last time, and we think he’s a pretty nice prospect,” said Jerry Hollendorfer, who trains Riptide Rock.

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Hollendorfer said the horse came out of the race well, and like other locals, subsequently lost some training time due to the winter storm system that closed the track for 11 days at Oaklawn.

“We’re in the same boat as everybody who missed a lot of training,” Hollendorfer said. “He’s been doing really good. I think he’s fit and ready to run a good race.”

Riptide Rock started his career at Woodbine, winning his debut by 2 1/2 lengths over six furlongs on turf Oct. 17 as the favorite. Stronach Stables bred and owns Riptide Rock.

Francisco Arrieta has the mount on Riptide Rock from post 2.

“He has tactical speed,” said Hollendorfer.

Kinetic Sky was a maiden winner around two turns in his last start Jan. 24 at Fair Grounds. Notary is coming off a fourth-place finish in a first-level allowance Oct. 25 at Churchill Downs.

The race Friday also drew Cousin Larry, who is a half-brother to Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell. Cousin Larry was a maiden special weight winner last year at Keeneland.

He caught a wet track for the first time last out when sixth in the same race as Riptide Rock. Cristian Torres has the mount for breeder Brereton Jones and trainer Larry Jones, the same team that guided $2.1 million earner Proud Spell.

In the eighth race, Vault is moving back into the overnight ranks for the first time since April. She’s run in stakes in her last four starts, among her efforts a runner-up finish in the Obeah at Delaware Park with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 91. Joe Talamo has the mount for trainer Brad Cox.

Piece of My Heart, winner of the Gardenia last year at Oaklawn, launches her 4-year-old season Friday. Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., who leads the local standings, has the mount for trainer Mac Robertson.