Scratched from stakes, I'm the Boss of Me lands in nice spot
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Greg Compton is taking his best shot with I’m the Boss of Me, who goes in Thursday’s $106,000 eighth race at Oaklawn Park.
The conditioned allowance is for fillies and mares at six furlongs.
I’m the Boss of Me is one of three entrants in the field who were scratched from the $150,000 Carousel that was held Saturday at Oaklawn.
“I’d rather be 2-1 for $106,000 than 15-1 for $150,000,” Compton said after entries for the allowance were drawn Friday.
Others who came out of the Carousel in favor of Thursday’s race were Dealing Justice and American Lily. The card marks the start of a calendar shift at Oaklawn, which adds Thursdays to its schedule for all of March.
I’m the Boss of Me has run in back-to-back stakes this meet, finishing fourth in the Poinsettia on Dec. 17 and second in the American Beauty on Jan. 21.
“She’s doing really well right now,” Compton said. “Her two races earlier in the meet, in the stakes, she ran well. We just want to win a race with her, get her back in the winner’s circle.”
I’m the Boss of Me was edged by a half-length in the American Beauty.
“She ran too good to lose,” Compton said. “She really ran a game effort. We were disappointed we didn’t we win – excited she put us in a position to win. Disappointed we couldn’t close the deal.
“She’s been training super since the last race, hasn’t missed an oat. I expect her to run well on Thursday.”
Compton said the right kind of performance could send I’m the Boss of Me to the $250,000 Matron, a new sprint for fillies and mares on March 31 at Oaklawn.
I’m the Boss of Me will break from post 6 in Thursday’s seven-horse field. Francisco Arrieta has the mount, as he has in both stakes this meet.
“She can do a little bit of everything,” Compton said. “She has speed. Last time, she was able to sit just off Connie K in the American Beauty. From the outside, we can kind of pick our trip.”
Compton co-owns I’m the Boss of Me with Danny Brown and Charis Brenneman.
Dealing Justice was second at this level last out and the winner of the race, Hazy Command, returned in her next start to finish third in the Carousel. Isaac Castillo has the mount from the rail for Lou Cella and trainer Riley Mott.
American Lily is making her first start at Oaklawn after being based in Southern California. She is 3 for 5 for Kaleem Shah and trainer Peter Miller. Martin Garcia has the mount from post 2.
Other leading contenders are Sarah Harper, third in the American Beauty, and Lastchanceforlove, a winner of her last three starts including the Flashy Lady at Remington Park.
David Cabrera, the regular rider of Lastchanceforlove, will be riding the upcoming meet at Horseshoe Indianapolis after finishing out the season at Oaklawn, said agent Jose Santos Jr. Cabrera will be in Indiana for opening day on April 18 and there Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which are dark days at Oaklawn, during the early season schedule in Indiana.
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