Three Chords sharp for first start of season

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Three Chords will attempt to make it three in a row on Friday when she starts as the most accomplished member of the field in the featured eighth race at Oaklawn Park.

The optional $100,000 claiming race for fillies and mares will be run over six furlongs. The purse is $89,000. The race could produce starters for the $125,000 Spring Fever here Feb. 29.

Three Chords is a three-time stakes winner who leads Friday’s seven-horse field in both wins, with eight, and earnings, with $385,007. Friday’s race will be her first start since Nov. 22.

Others set to start include Awe Emma, who exits a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 La Troienne on May 3 at Churchill Downs; Peruvian Appeal, who was third in the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 5 at Belmont Park; and What a Fox, who dominated in an allowance Jan. 25 at Oaklawn.

“There’s some very nice mares in there,” said Kenny Smith, who trains Three Chords. “It should be a really good race.”

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KEY CONTENDERS

Three Chords, by Euroears

Last 3 Beyers: 81-81-75

◗ She began her streak by winning the $130,000 Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprint for the second year in a row Oct. 18 at Remington Park. She then won an allowance sprint by a length at the same Oklahoma City oval Nov. 22 under regular rider Alex Birzer.

“It was pretty,” Smith said. “She ran a beautiful race. Inside the sixteenth pole, he just wrapped up on her. I hope I can get another race like that this time. If she runs like that, she’ll be tough.”

◗ Three Chords has been flattered since her last race, with both the runner-up, Create a Star, and the third-place finisher, Caliente Candy, winning allowance races at Remington in their next starts.

◗ Three Chords has been working at Oaklawn for her 5-year-old debut. She races for her breeder, Dream Walkin Farms, which is the stable of country artist Toby Keith and his family. Three Chords is out of the Cactus Ridge mare Carter’s Chord.

“She’s getting a lot better,” Smith said. “She’s still growing, spreading out real nicely. I look for a lot of good things to come.”

◗ Three Chords, who has won from both on and off the pace, will break from post 7.

“That’ll help,” Smith said of the draw.

“She kind of makes her own trip. I think she’s just as good going to the front as she is coming from off the pace. She’s pretty sharp. She’ll probably break right with them.”

Maybe Wicked, by Mizzen Mast

Last 3 Beyers: 90-69-83

◗ This marks her first out since an Aug. 3 win in the $75,000 West Virginia Secretary of State Stakes at Mountaineer.

◗ Martin Garcia has the mount for trainer Brad Cox.