Skelly battles invaders in Lake Hamilton repeat bid

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Skelly can go over $1 million in Oaklawn Park earnings on Saturday when he defends his Lake Hamilton title against a field that includes Southern California shipper Straight No Chaser and South Florida invader Mish.

The $200,000 Lake Hamilton, a six-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up, drew a field of eight. It goes as the 10th race on a 12-race card that includes the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship.

Skelly boasts a 7-for-9 record at Oaklawn, where he has earned $994,663. He’s looking for his fourth win at the current meet, having captured an allowance in December, the King Cotton in February, and the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet in his most recent start April 13.

“Any chance to run Skelly at Oaklawn’s a good chance,” said trainer Steve Asmussen.

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Skelly’s love affair with the local track began in February 2023, when he won a first-level allowance. Since that time, he has not lost in his last eight starts in North America. Skelly won three more times at that meet, picked off a stakes at Lone Star Park that summer, then returned to action here in December.

In the middle of Skelly’s local campaign this season, he took a trip to Saudi Arabia in February and finished second in the Group 3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint. He returned to action at Oaklawn in last month’s Count Fleet. Skelly set fractions of 21.52 seconds for the opening quarter and 43.38 for the half-mile in the meet’s richest offering for sprinters. He would go on to win by three lengths, while covering six furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.82.

Asmussen was wowed by Skelly’s powerful performance upon his return to North America. He said the horse tends to win his races “in the middle” of the race.

“His second quarters, it just pulls them off the bridle,” Asmussen said. “It’s been extremely impressive. Whew, he ran strong in the Count Fleet. Wow!”

Skelly earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 103, to go along with the three other triple-digit Beyers he has put up at Oaklawn.

Overall, the 4-year-old son of Practical Joke has won 9 of 14 starts for earnings of $1.4 million. He is a five-time stakes winner for Red Lane Thoroughbreds.

Ricardo Santana Jr., who has been Skelly’s regular rider since January 2023, has the mount from post 6.

Skelly is drawn outside of a pair of quick shippers. Straight No Chaser set a fast pace and prevailed in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint last May at Pimlico, earning a Beyer of 107. He’s making his first start since that race on Saturday and has been prepping for his return at Santa Anita. Straight No Chaser will break from the rail under Ramon Vazquez.

Mish last raced March 24 and won the $100,000 Sprint at Tampa Bay Downs. He’s worked back at his Palm Meadows base, going a bullet half-mile in 47.80 seconds April 25. Mish will start from post 2 under Samy Camacho.

Edge to Edge enters off a win in the Eclipse, an overnight stakes Oaklawn created this meet to coincide with the solar eclipse. Rafael Bejarano has the mount from post 5.

Arkansas Breeders’

Lochmoor will be looking for his third straight win when he takes on 11 others in the Arkansas Breeders’ Championship. The 1 1/16-mile race for statebred 3-year-olds and up drew last year’s winner, Willow Creek Road, and the 2020 winner, Man in the Can.

Lochmoor’s last two races have come at 1 1/16 miles, in a $50,000 starter in the mud March 22 and a no-conditions allowance on April 14. Those two starts were his lone tries going two turns on dirt and raised the idea that the four-time sprint winner by Laurie’s Rocket might be a better horse routing.

“You know, with that pedigree, it really doesn’t say that he should,” said trainer Bruce Riecken. “The two races he’s run so far have been pretty impressive.”

Lochmoor comes off a Beyer Speed Figure of 86, which is the best last-race number in the Arkansas Breeders’. He rallied from fourth for a 3 1/2-length win in the allowance – over a field that includes several runners that return Saturday.

“As far as his running style, he’s pretty push button,” Riecken said. “You can put him kind of wherever you want to and when you ask him to go, he gives you what he has.”

Lochmoor will break from post 2. He starts right outside of his half-brother Navy Seal, who is stakes-placed. Their dam, Copperelle, has produced the stakes winners Weast Hill, who earned nearly $500,000, and Usual Suspect.

Francisco Arrieta will ride the stakes-placed Lochmoor for owner William Kennedy Jr.

Jockey Jon Court, who said he plans to retire on Sunday, has the mount on Navy Seal for K E M Stables and trainer Nancy Knott.

Others making up the field include Black Apple, who won three straight races here between February and March, and One Ten Stadium, the runner-up last out to Lochmoor.

◗ The Budweiser Clydesdales are scheduled to appear at Oaklawn on both Saturday and Sunday, according to Chris Ho, the track’s vice president of marketing. The infield is scheduled to be open, weather permitting.

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