Stakes-level allowance featured on Oaklawn card
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The stablemates Tejano Twist and Kavod are among six stakes winners making up the field for Friday’s featured ninth race at Oaklawn Park
The three-other-than allowance for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs has a claiming option of $80,000. The purse is $107,000, and it’s one of three allowances on the card.
The first of them is the sixth race. Congressman could go favored over eight others in the first-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The start will be his first since he won a maiden special weight at a mile at Churchill Downs on May 7. Congressman earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.
“He ran a huge number,” said Rodolphe Brisset, who trains Congressman for WinStar Farm and Siena Farm. “It was one mile, one turn, and he carried that speed all the way around.”
Since that race, four horses Congressman defeated have come back to win in their next start. The group is led by King Ottoman, who captured the $300,000 Texas Derby at Lone Star Park.
As for Congressman, Brisset said he was given some time off with an eye to Oaklawn.
“We just thought he was the right horse to wait for Oaklawn,” he said. “He’s been working really good. In the condition book, we had to decide between six furlongs and a mile and we went for the six furlongs. He’s shown speed in his first two races. I think it’s a good spot to get him back and see what he does.”
Florent Geroux has the mount on Congressman, who will break from post 7.
Peaceful Street is another 4-year-old of note returning from a layoff. He won both of his starts, both last meet at Oaklawn. His most recent was a $30,000 starter allowance sprint on Jan. 1, 2022 – a race that has produced two next-out winners. Peaceful Street will add blinkers for trainer Robertino Diodoro.
“He’s definitely got some talent, is 2 for 2 lifetime,” Diodoro said. “He’s working really well. We’re excited to get him back going Friday.”
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Diodoro said Peaceful Street will likely race on the front end from post 6. Orlando Mojica has the mount for Rick Wiest, Clayton Wiest, and Lana Wiest.
The first-level allowance was split for Friday’s card and the second division goes as the eighth race. Knocker Down will go favored over eight others for his half-length runner-up finish to Tejano Twist in the $250,000 Steel Valley Sprint on Nov. 21 at Mahoning Valley. Tejano Twist should go favored in the ninth race on Friday.
Knocker Down has changed hands since the race and will be making his first start for the partnership of Madaket Stables and Robert LaPenta. Brad Cox, who is the horse’s new trainer, has given the mount to Geroux.
In the nightcap, Tejano Twist is looking to win his third straight race. In his most recent outings, he defeated straight 3-year-olds in the Steel Valley and an October allowance at Keeneland. Francisco Arrieta has the mount for trainer Chris Hartman.
Hartman has named David Cabrera to ride Kavod, who last meet won the Advent at Oaklawn.
The other stakes winners in the 10-horse field are Tut’s Revenge, Nobody Listens, He’smyhoneybadger, and Chattalot.
Kavod and Chattalot finished a respective second and third in the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes in December at Oaklawn.
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