Tejano Twist takes Whitmore; Goodall prevails in Purple Martin
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park put the spotlight on sprinters Saturday with Tejano Twist closing from last to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Whitmore in hand and Goodall rolling to a 4 1/2-length win in the $150,000 Purple Martin.
Both stakes were run over six furlongs, on a beautiful afternoon in the 70s that brought out an estimated ontrack crowd of 35,000.
The Whitmore – named for the champion who won this race four times when named the Hot Springs – was for 4-year-olds and up and served as the final steppingstone to the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.
Tejano Twist ($6) won the Whitmore for the second time in his career. The 7-year-old first won the race in 2023, when he was 4. On Saturday, he trailed early as Wendelssohn took the field through an opening quarter in 21.63 seconds and a half-mile in 44.68. Tejano Twist could still see the whole field into the stretch, overtook his rivals down the center of the track, and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:08.93.
Francisco Arrieta was aboard the winner for trainer Chris Hartman.
“I started asking him to pick it up passing the three-eighths pole,” Arrieta told track publicity. “I almost went inside, but I took him to the outside and let him go. I didn’t want to find any trouble. I had so much horse, too.”
Tejano Twist won by two lengths over Tough Catch, while it was another neck back in third to Gold Sweep.
Tejano Twist has now won 12 of 47 starts for earnings of $1,903,882. He is a son of Practical Joke and races for JD Thoroughbreds and Joey K. Davis.
The Purple Martin was for 3-year-old fillies and Goodall ($12) entered off a maiden special weight win at Fair Grounds. She was content to sit just off the hot pace set by You’re In Heaven, who led through an opening quarter in 21.53 seconds and a half-mile in 44.70. Goodall moved to the lead into the stretch and went on to cover the distance in a blazing 1:08.78.
“She’s super-talented,” winning rider Erik Asmussen said in a post-race interview conducted by Oaklawn.
Goodall won by 4 1/2 lengths over 3-5 favorite River Wind, while it was another half-length back in third to Our Two Girls.
Following the race, a claim of foul against the winner was lodged by the rider of the runner-up, claiming interference, but the stewards made no change.
Goodall is a daughter of Yaupon. She races for Spendthrift Farm and is trained by Steve Asmussen. Goodall is now 2 for 3 for earnings of $136,500.
Racing resumes Sunday with a pick six carryover of $25,432.
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