Streaking French Empire should have pace to chase

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – French Empire might have to reel in Headland to win her fourth consecutive race in the Friday feature at Oaklawn Park.

The closer and the front-runner figure to start as the top two choices in an allowance for fillies and mares who have not won a stakes in 2020-21. The six-furlong race also drew 2019 Emerald Downs stakes winner Mucho Amor, the stakes-placed runners Sunny Dale and Shesomajestic, and allowance winner Best Kept Secret. The purse for the race is $110,000.

“It’s a little stakes anywhere in the country,” said Cipriano Contreras, who trains French Empire.

Contreras had planned to await the upcoming Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn for French Empire, but said this allowance came up with an attractive purse and the decision was made to enter the daughter of Street Sense. French Empire will start as the probable favorite following a 3 1/2-length win over Headland in an allowance at this distance Feb. 4 at Oaklawn.

“It was a tough race,” Contreras said. “She ran a big race. I thought that was probably the toughest race she’s been in since I’ve had her, and she seemed to handle the field okay.”

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French Empire was a $20,000 claim by Contreras Stables and Victory Stables in September. She was a multiple winner at two turns earlier in her career, but in four starts for her new connections has won three sprints. Her lone loss for them has been a runner-up finish in a mile race in November.

French Empire started her streak in December at Turfway Park, where she won a two-other-than allowance over 6 1/2 furlongs. She then came back and won another allowance at the same track in January, over six furlongs. French Empire returned to put up a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 90 last out at Oaklawn.

“When I ran her at Turfway going six and a half, I thought it might be too short,” Contreras said. “And then she seemed to run better going three-quarters.

“I’m kind of surprised she seems to be running better going short, so now we’re going to keep her short and see what happens.”

French Empire, whose dam, Aquitaine, is by Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, has used a strong closing kick to seal the deal in her races for Contreras. It will be interesting to see if she gets the right setup Friday when she breaks from post 2 under Francisco Arrieta.

“She’s training good, doing really good,” Contreras said. “I just hope she runs a good race.”

Headland brings excellent speed to the table and could set the pace like she did in December, when she won a Remington Park allowance at this distance with a career-high Beyer Figure of 97. David Cabrera was aboard and again has the mount from post 4 for HWL Partnership and trainer Steve Hobby.

From that post, Headland also might track Sunny Dale, who has speed, drew the rail, and is moving from 5 1/2 furlongs to six panels. Martin Garcia has the mount for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

A duel between Headland, Sunny Dale, and possibly Shesomajestic could set the plate for the late run of French Empire.