Stakes winners lead sprint feature

Ike Walker, who has seen graded stakes rivals, and Caribbean Cowboy, who is undefeated in three starts, lead an optional $50,000 claiming allowance at Oaklawn on Wednesday. The six-furlong race for 3-year-olds carries first-level allowance conditions.

Ike Walker invades from Fair Grounds, where he won the South Mississippi Owners and Breeders Stakes on March 6. Earlier in his career, he ran fifth in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity and 12th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity won by Carpe Diem, who is now a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby.

Cliff Berry has the mount on Ike Walker for Ike and Dawn Thrash and trainer Michael Stidham.

Caribbean Cowboy is making his first start since August for RPM Thoroughbreds and trainer Kelly Von Hemel. The horse has won two restricted stakes in his last two starts, including the $96,131 Iowa Stallion Futurity at Prairie Meadows in July.