Roll On Big Joe notches fourth stakes victory of the year in Ring the Bell
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Roll On Big Joe won his fourth stakes race of the year Saturday, when he was prominent throughout for a 1 1/4-length win over favorite Banishing in the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes at Oaklawn Park. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Tejano Twist.
The Ring the Bell was a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up.
Roll On Big Joe ($6.40), who was a dappled picture of health heading to post, took the field through an opening quarter in 22.66 seconds, a half-mile in 45.88, and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:09.54.
“Nice horse,” said winning rider Julien Leparoux. “He always tries. We had a good race. He broke sharp, put me in the right spot, there relaxed in front, and we had enough to push anybody from behind us.”
Leparoux was aboard for trainer Bob Hess Jr.
Roll On Big Joe this year previously won the Grade 3 Palos Verdes in February at Santa Anita, the Grade 3 Kelly’s Landing in June at Churchill Downs, and the Bet On Sunshine in November at Churchill. The son of Prospective races for the partnership of Rancho Temescal, Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, White Fence and Hale.
“He’s very consistent,” Leparoux said. “I’m happy for him and the connections. It was a big win.”
Roll On Big Joe has now won 9 of 22 starts and earned $751,925.
Banishing was making his first start since running a troubled 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Skelly was seeking to win his 11th consecutive Oaklawn race, but the front-runner broke last of all, was caught behind traffic, and finished fifth.
Leparoux came in to ride Roll On Big Joe and also has mounts Sunday at Oaklawn. He said from there, he will head back to his winter base of Turfway Park. Leparoux hopes to return for select mounts during the course of the season at Oaklawn.
Earlier on Saturday’s card, a moment of silence was observed for the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The track showed a video presentation and friends, fellow horsemen, jockeys and children gathered in the winner’s circle for photos. Lukas had been a regular at Oaklawn.
Racing resumes Sunday, which will close out opening weekend at Oaklawn.
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