Tempt Fate handles two turns, extends streak in Arkansas Breeders' Championship

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tempt Fate won his fourth straight race Friday in the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship to roll a perfect meet at Oaklawn Park. He was making his two-turn debut in the race and finished two lengths in front of reigning Arkansas-bred of the year Man in the Can. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third to the filly The Mary Rose.

The 1 1/16-mile stakes highlighted the meet’s penultimate card. It was for 3-year-olds and up bred in Arkansas.

Earlier on the program, Breeders’ Cup Sprint hopeful Empire of Gold won a stakes-quality allowance after setting a quick pace and going on to cover six furlongs in 1:09.13. Shashashakemeup was scratched from the race and is entered in the Grade 1, $500,000 Churchill Downs on Saturday. Empire of Gold was coming off a third-place finish behind C Z Rocket and champion Whitmore in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn.

Tempt Fate ($5.80) came into the Arkansas Breeders’ Championship off three straight wins at Oaklawn. He captured two allowances and the $150,000 Nodouble Stakes. In the Arkansas Breeders’ Championship he went to the front and set fractions of 23.16 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.69 for the half-mile, and 1:11.49 for six furlongs, before going on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:44.12.

“I thought we’d go to the front and stay there,” Jerry Caroom told Oaklawn television host Nancy Holthus in a post-race interview from the infield winner's circle. “The horse is fabulous.

“He’s a very fast horse and showed today he can make the distance.”

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Cristian Torres was aboard Tempt Fate for trainer Carl Deville.

Tempt Fate has built his streak against Arkansas-breds, winning allowances on the front end Feb. 9 and March 12, before taking the Nodouble on March 27. He is a son of Hamazing Destiny.

Tempt Fate earned $120,000 on Friday to improve his record to 5 wins from 11 starts for earnings of $376,100.

The meet closes Saturday with the $300,000 Oaklawn Stakes, which carries a Preakness berth. The infield is scheduled to be open for the 12-race card that starts at noon Central.