HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tejano Twist will be looking to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Whitmore for the second year in a row Saturday at Oaklawn Park, and the tactics his connections plan to employ are already known far and wide for the six-furlong dirt sprint. “There’s no secret to him how he’s going to be running,” trainer Chris Hartman said. “He’s a very theatrical runner, comes from the back of the bus. He’s fun to watch run. I’ve had people tell me how much they enjoy watching him with that kick. He has that marvelous kick.” That kick has carried Tejano Twist to five stakes wins and more than $1.2 million in earnings. It’s a record that will see him vie for favoritism with fellow Grade 3 winners Ryvit and Jaxon Traveler. The competitive eight-horse field for the Whitmore also includes stakes winners Surveillance and Cowan. The Whitmore is part of an 11-race card that celebrates members of the Hall of Fame. There are 22 individuals scheduled to be on-site for special activities, including an extended autograph session with the public. The Whitmore shares the stakes spotlight with the $200,000 Purple Martin on a program that has a special first post of noon Central. Tejano Twist is making his third start at the meet. He captured the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes in December. From there, he ran second in the $150,000 King Cotton at the same distance of the Whitmore. “He was chasing Skelly,” Hartman said of the top-class sprinter. “He’s coming up to the race good. I’m very happy with how he’s doing.” Chris Landeros has the mount from post 2. Tejano Twist could get a decent setup courtesy of Ryvit, Ninja Warrior, Jaxon Traveler, and Cowan. The horses all showed speed in their last starts. Ryvit owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure of 99 for his win over allowance rivals Feb. 23. He will be looking for the fifth stakes win of his career when he breaks from post 3 under regular rider Keith Asmussen. Steve Asmussen, who will be part of the Hall of Fame festivities, trains the son of Competitive Edge for Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt. Asmussen also sends out Jaxon Traveler, who will be seeking his seventh stakes win when he starts from post 6 under Flavien Prat. In his last start, Jaxon Traveler set quick fractions and prevailed in the $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial on Feb. 18 at Sunland Park. Surveillance invades off a win over allowance rivals Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds. He’s a three-time stakes winner. James Graham has the mount for trainer Keith Desormeaux. Cowan returns to stakes company after being claimed from a $62,500 sprint at Aqueduct in which he finished second. Ramon Vazquez has the mount for owner and trainer David Jacobson. Morse duo in Purple Martin Trainer Randy Morse has two fillies trying to turn the tables on Xtreme Diva in the six-furlong Purple Martin for 3-year-old fillies. Morse sends Blue Squall and Asternia who have finished second to Xtreme Diva in separate races this meet at Oaklawn. “She’s pretty tough,” Morse said. Blue Squall will be looking for her first stakes win after finishing second by a nose in the $150,000 Dixie Belle won by Xtreme Diva on Feb. 17. Blue Squall was making her first start against winners and earned a career-high Beyer of 83. “She hung on her left lead all the way down the lane,” Morse said. “I think if she would have switched, it might have made a difference. Who knows? “She’s a nice filly.” Blue Squall brought $300,000 at last year’s Texas 2-year-olds in training sale to top the auction at Lone Star Park. She won her maiden over Lemon Muffin, who returned in her next start to win the Grade 3 Honeybee at Oaklawn. Cristian Torres, who won four races last Sunday at Oaklawn, has the mount from post 2. “She’ll be stalking,” Morse said. “I think that’s her best.” Asternia was second to Xtreme Diva in a first-level allowance Feb. 2. She was beaten three-quarters of a length and earned a Beyer of 82. Asternia will break from post 5 under Emmanuel Esquivel. “She’ll probably be in front, she’s pretty quick,” Morse said. “She’s always shown a lot of talent. She’s just now acting like she’s kind of growing up.” Xtreme Diva rallied from off the pace in both the allowance and Dixie Belle and will be seeking her third straight win at the meet for Xtreme Racing Stables and trainer Mac Robertson. Ramon Vazquez has the mount from post 6. The other stakes winner in the field is Tx Women for Arts. Asmussen has given the mount to Ricardo Santana Jr. Brooklynn Drew owns the field’s best last-race Beyer of 85 for a maiden special weight win at Fair Grounds. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.