Sekani, The Mary Rose finish one-two in Rainbow Miss for John Ed Anthony, trainer William VanMeter
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Shortleaf Stable and trainer Will VanMeter locked up the top two spots in the $100,000 Rainbow Miss at Oaklawn on Friday, when Sekani darted to a length and a half win over The Mary Rose.
The race was one of two stakes on the card, along with the $100,000 Rainbow won by Man in the Can ($6.40). Both races were for 3-year-olds bred in Arkansas.
The Shortleaf operation of John Ed Anthony also is the breeder of Sekani and The Mary Rose.
“These moments, they go back four years when John Ed bred these horses and there's been so many hands that have touched them,” VanMeter told publicity at Oaklawn. “We're just kind of at the culmination of four years of hard work by a lot of great people and it's great to see them run one-two.”
Sekani ($6.60), who was a 10-length maiden special weight winner in February, broke from post 8 on Friday and settled in third off fractions of 22.46 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.22 for the half-mile. She moved to the lead in the stretch and went on to cover six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.92.
Declan Cannon was aboard Sekani, who is a daughter of Double Irish.
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The Mary Rose rallied through the stretch for second, finishing 2 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Choctaw Charlie.
“The Mary Rose van a very credible race,” VanMeter said. “I think she was hindered a little bit by her post-position draw, where Sekani had the better draw and was able to sit a good trip.”
The Mary Rose is a daughter of Macho Uno.
In the Rainbow, jockey Joel Rosario angled Man in the Can off the rail in the stretch and ran down the leaders. The winner covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.64.
Man in the Can was content to settle in fifth off the pace set by Zaino Boyz, who took the field through an opening quarter in 21.69 seconds and a half-mile in 45.17.
Man in the Can, who advanced on the turn and through the stretch, won by a half-length over Captain Don.
Ron Moquett trains Man in the Can, a son of Can the Man, for JRita Young Thoroughbreds.
Hill awaiting X-ray results
Jockey Channing Hill, who was thrown during the second race Friday at Oaklawn, was at a local hospital awaiting the results of X-rays, according to his agent, John Gasper.
Gasper said Hill had complained of a little soreness. Hill did not ride the remainder of his mounts Friday.