Stakes-winning sprinter Alsvid retired

Alsvid, the millionaire sprinter who won his 8-year-old debut last month at Oaklawn, has been retired, trainer Chris Hartman said Tuesday. The gelding will be sent to the Elk City, Okla., farm of owners Jim and Jo Brenda Rogers.

Alsvid won 11 stakes during his career, at Churchill Downs, Oaklawn, Prairie Meadows, Remington Park, and Zia.

“We had a lot of good times,” Hartman said. “He took us to a lot of places and it was a lot of fun, but all rides come to an end.”

Hartman said Alsvid was retired following a Feb. 11 work at Oaklawn. He was preparing for a start in next month’s Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn.

“After we worked him the other day he came back and he wasn’t 100 percent,” Hartman said. “I called the owners, and we decided to retire him. He has done enough. He’s been awesome.”

The Rogerses purchased Alsvid for $55,000 as a 2-year-old in training, and he went on to win 16 of 47 starts and $1.3 million. He could be a riding horse for the Rogers family, Hartman said.

“They purchased him out of the sale, and I believe he pretty much paid for the farm,” Hartman said. “He’s got his own little ranch to roam around. He’s retiring to his own place.”

Alsvid won the Grade 3 Aristides at Churchill Downs twice and also captured the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn.

Texas Chrome back at Oaklawn

Texas Chrome, winner of last year’s Super Derby and Oklahoma Derby, was freshened after the Breeders’ Cup and returned to the Oaklawn barn of trainer J.R. Caldwell on Sunday. He went to the track Monday.

“We’re shooting for a race at the end of the Oaklawn meet,” said Caldwell, who trains Texas Chrome for Keene Thoroughbreds. “If everything falls together, we’ll look at something at the end of the meet.”

Texas Chrome benefited from the time off, Caldwell said.

“He’s bigger, he’s stronger,” Caldwell said. “He’s put on a lot of muscle. He really grew up. He’s come back very good.”

Texas Chrome has been named the 2016 Texas Horse of the Year by the Texas Thoroughbred Association.

Money Flows eyes Maxxam

Money Flows, who improved his record to 4 for 8 with a recent allowance win at Fair Grounds, is being pointed to the $100,000 Maxxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston, trainer Al Stall Jr. said. The Maxxam, a 1 1/18-mile race for 3-year-olds and up, runs Feb. 25.

“It will be his first time in a stakes race,” Stall said.

Money Flows has never run worse than third in his career. He races for Columbine Stable.

Evangeline Mile set for June 3

Evangeline Downs announced its stakes schedule Wednesday, and the highlight of the meet will again be the $100,000 Evangeline Mile. The race for 3-year-olds and up on the main track will be run June 3.

Evangeline will race 84 dates, from April 12 through Sept. 2.

The Evangeline Mile will be supported by a pair of $50,000 stakes, the Need For Speed for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on the grass, and the Lafayette, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana.

Other highlights on the stakes schedule include the Louisiana Legends Night program of eight divisional stakes restricted to horses bred in the state. Purses for those races will total $750,000.

Sunland Derby popular

The Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby, which is back after a one-year hiatus, drew 458 nominations. The 1 1/8-mile race will be run March 26.

The Sunland Park Derby was not run last year due to an outbreak of equine herpesvirus at the New Mexico track. The race was replaced with a $400,000 route for 3-year-olds. The track also will run the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks on March 26.

◗ Announcer Vic Stauffer will be the guest for the first Dawn at Oaklawn program of the season Saturday. Nancy Ury-Holthus hosts the program from the track apron. It runs from 7:30-9:30 a.m. and includes barn tours. The free event is sponsored by Westrock Coffee.