Rumpleminx figuring things out ahead of Oaklawn debut

HOT SPRINGS, Ark – Mr. Jagermeister’s baby sister Rumpleminx will make her Oaklawn Park debut Thursday in the eighth race, a competitive optional $80,000 claiming sprint for 3-year-old fillies that drew 14 horses. The gate is limited to 12.

Misty Blue could go favored off back-to-back optional $40,000 claiming wins at Oaklawn, her latest at this six-furlong distance with a Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

“The races that she won were pretty much similar competition,” trainer Mike Maker said. “She’s taking a step up this week. I think she’ll need to improve.”

Martin Garcia was aboard for both wins and has the mount from post 10.

“Her best races are going to be on the front end,” Maker said.

Rumpleminx has won 2 of 3 starts and enters off an allowance win at Turf Paradise. It came on Feb. 17 and was her first out since a third-place finish in the $79,000 Prairie Gold Lassie Stakes at Prairie Meadows last July.

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“She seems to be training well over the surface,” said Valorie Lund, who co-bred, co-owns, and trains Rumpleminx. “I think she’s a very talented filly, although she really hasn’t put it all together. Last summer when she ran, she didn’t have any clue what she was doing. She was a little more focused last out at Turf Paradise.

“It has nothing to do with talent, but with figuring it out.”

Rumpleminx shares a number of similarities with Mr. Jagermeister, an eight-time stakes winner trained by Lund. Both horses are by Atta Boy Roy and from the mare Frangelica.

“They actually look really alike,” Lund said. “She’s far more feminine than him – she’s a girl. She’s a beautiful filly.

“It was Saturday morning, both breezed first after the break, and they were walking back and I said to myself, ‘What a gorgeous pair of horses they are.’ ”

They have even more in common.

“They were born on the same day, two years apart,” Lund said. “Both had their birthday last week, on March 27.”

Mr. Jagermeister is coming off a runner-up finish to Whitmore in the $150,000 Hot Springs here March 7.

“We’re pointing him for the Count Fleet,” Lund said of the Grade 3, $350,000 race on April 18 at Oaklawn. “He came out of the last race marvelous. He’s sharp. He’s feisty. All the things we love to see with him.”

Rumpleminx, who like her brother has natural speed, will break from the rail under Calvin Borel.

“I don’t love being down inside with an inexperienced filly, but she’s very tractable, wonderful to do anything with,” Lund said.

Lund shares ownership in Rumpleminx – and Mr. Jagermeister – with her sisters Leslie Cummings and Kristin Boice.