Skelly has fourth straight victory in Lake Hamilton
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Skelly flaunted his outstanding speed en route to winning his fourth consecutive race in the $150,000 Lake Hamilton on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.
Skelly won by three lengths over Sir Wellington, while covering six furlongs on a fast track in 1:09. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Edge to Edge.
The Lake Hamilton is a new race and was one of two stakes on the closing-day card. The $200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship was won by Willow Creek Road ($37.60).
Skelly ($2.80) has built his streak at Oaklawn, winning allowances in February and March before capturing the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap in April. He set all the fractions in each of the races in his streak, and did so again Saturday.
Skelly broke on top and quickly put some separation between himself and the field, as he was up by more than two lengths through an opening quarter in 21.37 seconds. He proceeded to lead through a half-mile in 44.11 and five-eighths in 56.26.
“He’s a nice horse,” winning rider Ricardo Santana Jr., told the publicity department at Oaklawn. “He did it easy today.
“I’m really happy with how the horse has developed.”
Santana was aboard for Red Lane Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen.
Skelly is a 4-year-old gelding by Practical Joke who has now won 5 of 9 starts for earnings of $642,513.
Willow Creek Road in Breeders’ Championship
Willow Creek Road became a stakes winner when he held off a fast-closing King Peanut for a neck victory in the Arkansas Breeders’ Championship. The 1 1/6-mile race was for 3-year-olds and up bred in Arkansas.
Willow Creek Road, who added blinkers for the race, tracked the pace as Mahomey took the field through fractions of 23.01 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.02 for the half-mile before conceding the lead to the eventual winner through six furlongs in 1:12.14.
Willow Creek Road kept on to the wire and covered the distance on a fast track in 1:44.27.
Eduardo Gallardo was aboard for trainer Mac Robertson.
Big Success unseated jockey Luis Quinonez at the start of the race, with Quinonez left in the gate. All wagers on the horse were refunded. Quinonez walked back to the jockeys’ room and Big Success was caught by outriders.
Willow Creek Road is a son of Hightail who races for the partnership of Jac Mac Stable, Stanley Thrash and Gary A. Thomas. Earlier in the meet, he won a maiden special weight and entry-level allowance, both sprints against Arkansas-breds at Oaklawn. He was beaten a head in his two-turn debut in a starter allowance, before taking the Arkansas Breeders’ Championship.
Torres wins riding title
Oaklawn recognized its title winners throughout the card. The meet’s leading owner is the partnership of Heath Aaron and Sheena Campbell.
Robertino Diodoro won the training title. Cristian Torres captured the riding title.
*** Oaklawn will resume racing in December. The track is set to race from Dec. 8-May 4.
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