Tom's d'Etat begins his 7-year-old campaign in style with strong Oaklawn Mile finish

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Tom’s d’Etat got his season off to a rousing start Saturday, when he ran down Improbable to win the $150,000 Oaklawn Mile.

The race that ended at the sixteenth pole was his first since he captured the Grade 1 Clark over a mile and an eighth Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.

“We knew nothing was optimum distance-wise and racetrack configuration-wise,” said Al Stall Jr., who trains Tom’s d’Etat for G M B Racing. “He’s a good horse off the bench.”

Tom’s d’Etat ($3.60) won by three-quarter of a length over Grade 1 winner Improbable, who was making his first start since running fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. It was another two lengths back in third to Bankit.

Tom’s d’Etat raced in the second flight as Pioneer Spirit set fractions of 22.90 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.09 for the half-mile and 1:10.34 for six furlongs. Tom’s d’Etat started picking off horses while traveling four wide around the final turn, as Improbable took over the race coming to the quarter pole. In the stretch, Tom’s d’Etat closed with good energy and pushed past Improbable. The winner covered the distance on a sealed track rated wet-fast in 1:35.83.

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“I got shut off in the first turn and I was back, but I always had confidence he would come running and then he did,” winning rider Joel Rosario told Oaklawn publicity. “He's a really nice horse.”

Rosario is now 5 for 5 on Tom’s d’Etat. He’s been aboard the horse for his last three starts, all stakes wins starting with the Grade 2 Fayette in October at Keeneland.

Tom’s d’Etat was winning his 10th race from 17 starts in what was a big beginning to his year Saturday.

“I just really couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Stall, “because it certainly looked like Improbable fired an ‘A’ race and his ‘A’ race going a mile is usually a winning race.”

Stall said plans are to be determined for Tom’s d’Etat, who is scheduled to remain at Oaklawn until the stable area opens at Churchill Downs. The opening of the backside has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, as have some races like the Kentucky Derby, which will now be run Sept. 5.

“We’ll just see if they retool their meet and program and stakes schedule and things like that,” Stall said. “The Stephen Foster is a goal.”

The Grade 2, $700,000 race over a mile and an eighth is currently scheduled for June 27. It is a Win and You’re In qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, which is the long term goal for Tom’s d’Etat, said Stall.

Stall said there is a new prep on the current stakes schedule, the $150,000 Blame over a mile and an eighth May 30 at Churchill, and that could become an option for Tom’s d’Etat.

Stall trained Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame.

“We’re not going be sentimental about it,” he said. “Under these circumstances, something like that might be a possibility. There are a lot of ifs.”

Tom’s d’Etat earned $90,000 for his win Saturday, pushing his bankroll to $1,326,572. He has now won five stakes. Tom’s d’Etat is a 7-year-old son of Smart Strike.