Speed Bias has recency edge over Magic Tap in salty allowance

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Speed Bias will have recency on probable favorite Magic Tap when the Grade 3-placed runners meet in Friday’s featured ninth race at Oaklawn Park.

The conditioned allowance is for 4-year-olds and up over 1 1/8 miles. The field of eight includes Black Powder, who won a second-level allowance in his last start Jan. 5, and Masqueparade, a Grade 3 winner of more than $900,000.

Speed Bias was third by a neck in a conditioned allowance Jan. 17 at Oaklawn. It was run at one mile and the race was his first start since July. In the weeks following his return effort, winter storms and torrential rains disrupted training at times and led to some card cancellations at Oaklawn.

“I kind of wish I had one more race with him before we went to the mile and an eighth, but that’s what’s available,” said trainer Ron Moquett. “It’s been a crazy [winter]. It’s not usually this way at Oaklawn, but it’s been hard to get the races we want with the cancellations. Obviously, this horse was in the other day. With the cancellations, it’s just kind of hard to get there.

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“We think we’re in a good spot. We look for him to run well. But it’s one of those deals where I’d feel really strong if [he had] one more race or it was a mile and a sixteenth. But we’ll go out there and figure it all out together, a mile and an eighth.”

Rafael Bejarano has the mount on Speed Bias from post 8 for Keith F. Johnston and William S. Sparks.

“I’m going to say he’s usually forwardly placed,” said Moquett.

Moquett also will saddle Red Run, a stakes winner who closed for third in a 1 1/16-mile race Dec. 22. He was beaten a neck and figures to make good use of the added ground he gets Friday.

“For him, it’s good,” Moquett said of the distance Friday. “He’d rather run a mile and three-eighths.”

Red Run is a son of Gun Runner owned by Bowen Thoroughbred Racing and Sparks. The 6-year-old brings a fun fact into the race Friday.

“An editor’s note there, he is the first winner for Gun Runner, so pretty cool,” said Moquett. “And, he’s a full brother to Red Route One.”

Red Route One is a Grade 2 winner at 1 1/8 miles and has earned more than $1.8 million.

Red Run will break from post 5 under Ricardo Santana Jr.

Magic Tap is making his first start since running fifth in last year’s Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on April 20. The race has produced a pair of next-out stakes winners in Highland Falls and Octane. Magic Tap earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 94 and it’s the best last-race number in the field Friday.

Magic Tap shows a nice series of five-furlong works ahead of his 5-year-old debut. The winner of more than $500,000 will start from post 4. Keith Asmussen has the mount for Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen.

Masqueparade won last year’s Temperence Hill Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Oaklawn. Harry Hernandez has the mount for trainer Rob Atras.

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