South Beach seeks third straight win

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – South Beach will put his perfect record on the line Wednesday at Oaklawn, where the final week of the meet has arrived.

There are two high-end optional-claiming races on the card, which is the calm before the Racing Festival of the South storm. The series of seven stakes worth a total of $3.5 million starts Thursday and runs through the meet’s final card on Saturday.

South Beach goes in the 10th race Wednesday, an optional $50,000 claiming race at a mile that carries second-level allowance conditions. Salt Bae leads the ninth race, an optional $75,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. It carries first-level allowance conditions.

South Beach won his career debut Feb. 9 at Oaklawn, in a maiden special weight sprint in which he covered six furlongs in 1:10.80. He proved three lengths best and backed up the performance one start later with a 2 1/4-length victory in a first-level allowance route March 17 at Oaklawn.

“He’s been very impressive in his two races here,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “I thought it was a big jump up from a maiden race going three-quarters to a two-turn, other-than optional, and like always, we reward them for success with a higher fence.”

South Beach will face a competitive field of 12 as he moves into the new condition Wednesday. Among his rivals are Secret House, a three-time winner coming off a runner-up finish in an optional $40,000 claiming route at Oaklawn, and Bad Student, who is looking for career win No. 17.

South Beach, a $1.8 million purchase at auction in 2016, brings several strong qualities into his latest test. One of them is his versatile nature. He also owns the field’s co-highest (with Langdarma) last-race Beyer Speed Figure, an 87.

“He’s got a talent level that allows him to be anywhere you want to be, which is very comforting,” Asmussen said.

Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 10.

South Beach races for the partnership of Woodford Racing and Bob LaPenta. He is a son of Tapit.

Salt Bae is moving back into the overnight ranks after running second in the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes on March 24 at Oaklawn. Earlier this year, she was a 5 3/4-length maiden special weight winner at Fair Grounds. David Cabrera has the mount for Fleur De Lis Stables and trainer Bernie Flint.