Rookie Season tries to build on recent claiming win

Rookie Season ran one of the most memorable races of the 2018 meet at Will Rogers Downs when he won his maiden in a local stakes by double digits. He’s back in action at the Claremore, Okla., track on Wednesday, in an allowance sprint that could produce starters for upcoming stakes races at Will Rogers.

Rookie Season goes in the third, for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The race is restricted to horses bred in Oklahoma. The field of six includes stakes-placed Criminal and comebacking Covington Quality.

Rookie Season made a splash in April 2018 when he won the $55,000 Will Rogers Handicap for 3-year-olds by 12 1/4 lengths. It was his first career victory.

“We were awfully proud of him,” said Scott Young, the current leading trainer at Will Rogers. “We were pretty high on him, thinking he had a good shot. They way he did it, visually, took us aback. We were in awe. He came back and probably ran an even better race in his next start, against older horses. He got nailed on the wire by Perfect to Please.”

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The race against Perfect to Please, a multiple stakes winner who earned more than $600,000, came in the $55,000 Cherokee Nation Classic Cup in May 2018 at Will Rogers. For the effort, Rookie Season earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 79.

Rookie Season made his first local appearance since the Classic Cup on March 16. He won a $15,000 conditioned claiming sprint by 9 3/4 lengths, rebounding from a trio of off-the-board finishes in allowances at Remington Park.

“We had high hopes for him last fall and for some reason, he wasn’t firing,” Young said. “We put him in that spot last time hoping to build his confidence.

“I look for him to get back that great form he had as a 3-year-old. Hopefully, he’s back in that form.”

Rookie Season earned a Beyer of 70 for his win last out. It’s the best last-race number in the field Wednesday. He will break from post 2 under regular rider Floyd Wethey Jr.

“I expect him to be on or near the lead,” Young said. “He doesn’t have to be on the lead, but he’s a fighter and that’s what he likes to do.”

Young trains Rookie Season, a son of Notional, for the horse’s breeder, Bad Boy Racing.

“Hopefully, we’ll be looking for some stakes down the road again,” said Young, who has one- and two-turn stakes options for the horse at Will Rogers.