Rose Parade trending upward with stakes aspirations

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The late country music superstar Toby Keith was a serious student of pedigree and when partner Danny Caldwell contacted him late last year about a Curlin filly for sale, Keith pulled up her family minutes later and gave him the thumbs-up to purchase Rose Parade for his Dream Walkin’ Farms.

She was one of the last horses Keith purchased before his death in February – and she’s developing into a notable runner. Rose Parade goes in Friday’s eighth race at Oaklawn Park, a first-level allowance for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, and with the right performance could advance to the track’s $200,000 Dig a Diamond on April 27.

“I know Big Dog Daddy wouldn’t want to sell her,” Caldwell said of Keith. “He’d want to keep her running, so that’s what we’re going to do.

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“I think she’s a nice filly. She’s a Curlin, and her dam is a half-sister to Exaggerator. If we can get her to win an allowance and aim to get her stakes-placed, she’ll be worth more money. That’s kind of the plan if everything goes good.”

Caldwell has been managing some of the racing operations for Keith’s stable, which is now owned by his family. Caldwell partners with the family on horses in Country Bros Stable, which he formed with Keith, and also has his own stable. Caldwell is racing at Oaklawn and Will Rogers Downs and after those meets will base at Prairie Meadows and Louisiana Downs.

Rose Parade has the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the field of eight. She earned the number, an 81, for a five-length maiden special weight win at the same distance in her second career start March 22. In her debut, she was second by a neck in a maiden race, also at Oaklawn. Walter De La Cruz was aboard for both races and has the mount again from the rail for trainer Eusebio Rufino.

“Her first start was going a mile and she led all the way to the last jump,” Caldwell said. “Last time, she showed she was able to rate. She was able just to kind of stalk and when Walter asked her down the lane, she just kind of took off. She just kind of did it really, really easy. I don’t see why she can’t improve a little bit more.”

The field includes Paris Style, who was beaten a nose at this level last out when second to Insensitive. Flashy Lass and My Good Fortune, who were a respective third and fourth in the same race, both return Friday.

“When you run in an allowance race at Oaklawn for $140,000, you’re going to face some good horses,” Caldwell said. “She’s going to have to show up with her ‘A’ game. Right now, she’s doing really good. I hope she runs like she’s been training.”

◗ Grazia invades from Southern California for the ninth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. She’s moving back to the one turn configuration of her debut win and faces seven others, including Moonlit Lady, a daughter of the Grade 1-winning mare Diplomat Lady. Juan Hernandez rides Grazia for trainer Bob Baffert, a day before the men team in the Apple Blossom with Adare Manor. Trainer Fausto Gutierrez, a two-time Apple Blossom winner with Letruska, trains Moonlit Lady.

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