Rolling Fork goes from longshot bomb to favorite

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Rolling Fork paid $123 when he was up for a nose win earlier this month at Oaklawn Park. He’s back in action Sunday and this time he could be the favorite.

Rolling Fork goes in the seventh race, a $30,000 starter allowance for 4-year-olds and up bred in Arkansas. He is moving back into the statebred ranks for the six-furlong race and owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, a 76

“I think if he runs the same race back, he can win again,” said Kim Puhl, who co-owns and trains Rolling Fork. “The way he’s feeling right now, I think he will run the same race back.”

The starter allowance is one of the highlights of a nine-race card that closes out the race week. A field of eight is set to start, with the chief threats Twisted Dixie, who faced a top Arkansas-bred last out in Gar Hole, and Data Storm, who last raced at Keeneland.

Puhl and Boarman Racing claimed Rolling Fork at Keeneland in October. They claimed him for $25,000 out of a sprint in which he finished fourth. Earlier in his career, Rolling Fork was stakes-placed against Arkansas-breds at Oaklawn.

“I mainly claimed him because he’s an Arkansas-bred and I was coming to Arkansas,” Puhl said.

Rolling Fork made his first start for his new connections in December and finished 11th in a first-level allowance against open company at Oaklawn. One start later, he won a $30,000 claiming race over six furlongs, at 60-1.

“The first time it was a very tough race, but the last time I ran the horse it was still a tough race, but he’s got a lot of class,” Puhl said. “He’s made 200,000-something dollars.

“That’s probably the most one’s paid that I’ve had. I’m a little guy in a big pond at Oaklawn. When I go to Ohio, a lot of my horses are favorites. Thank God we’re running good. Hopefully, everything keeps running good.”

Rolling Fork will break from post 2 under Kylee Jordan, who was aboard last time out.

“I think he’s just going to lay off of it a little bit and come running,” Puhl said. “Kylee Jordan is a very good rider, very patient. I think she fits the horse very well.”

Puhl also likes the fact Rolling Fork is a four-time winner facing mostly two-time winners Sunday. The horse, who is by Midshipman, has registered all of his victories at Oaklawn.

Southwest Stakes on Saturday

Oaklawn’s meet kicks into a higher gear next weekend with the running of the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest on Saturday. Pat Pope, the track’s racing secretary, said the Kentucky Derby points race could draw between eight to 10 starters. Entries for the race will be taken on Monday.

The Southwest shares a card with the $200,000 Martha Washington, which is a points race for the Kentucky Oaks, and the $150,000 King Cotton.

Pope said if 11 races fill for Saturday, first post will be moved up a half-hour to 12 p.m. Central.