Seven Nation Army brings strong Beyer Figure to allowance

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Seven Nation Army will bring the Oaklawn Park meet’s second-best Beyer Speed Figure into the featured eighth race Friday.

The horse earned a 98 for his runner-up finish in the $150,000 King Cotton here Feb. 6. The number was just two points below the meet-best 100 put up by Boldor for his one-length win in the same race. Seven Nation Army returns to the overnight ranks Friday for a conditioned allowance at six furlongs that carries an optional claiming price of $80,000. The field of 10 includes Jalen Journey, who has won his last two starts; Strike That, who two races ago put up a Beyer Figure of 100; and Gold Street, winner of last year’s Smarty Jones at Oaklawn.

Seven Nation Army is a 6-year-old who has stepped up his game over the last year and a half. He won his maiden for a claiming price of $25,000 and has become a reliable allowance runner, and last summer worked his way into the stakes ranks.

“He’s a good horse,” said Ron Moquett, who co-owns and trains Seven Nation Army. “When he was a baby, he had a calcium tumor in his lower intestine. It was taken out. It took me a long time to figure out how to get him back going. It’s a testament to the patience of my partners. It was a lot of trial and error. He ran for a tag two or three times. We finally got him figured out. He’s been a super cool horse.”

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Seven Nation Army is co-owned by Franklin Stables.

“He’s a fine example of what can happen when someone has a little patience and lets a horse develop,” Moquett said.

Ramon Vazquez has the mount from post 5 on Seven Nation Army, a career winner of 7 of 24 starts for earnings of $316,359.

Jalen Journey is going for his third straight win behind a $40,000 claiming race in November at Churchill Downs and a $50,000 waiver-claiming race in January at Oaklawn. The wins were his first since May 2019 at Gulfstream Park, and the efforts have earned him a return to the allowance ranks. Earlier in his career, Jalen Journey was third in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby in 2019 at Del Mar.

“He’s got a lot of ability, and it’s good to see him putting it out,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Jalen Journey.

Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 6 for David Bernsen.

Strike That is making his first start since November. Last year at Oaklawn, he won a $50,000 starter allowance off the bench. In more recent times, Strike That won a Churchill Downs allowance over Grade 1 winner Hog Creek Hustle in October.