Tom's d'Etat rerouted to Oaklawn Mile

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Grade 1 winner Tom’s d’Etat remains on schedule to launch his season April 11 – but the venue has changed.

Trainer Al Stall Jr. said Tuesday that the $150,000 Oaklawn Mile is the new target race for Tom’s d’Etat. The horse had been pointing for the Grade 3 Ben Ali the same day at Keeneland.

However, the spring meet at Keeneland has since been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tom’s d’Etat, a 7-year-old millionaire by Smart Strike, has done most of his prep work for his return at his winter base at Fair Grounds. But he’s now settled in at Oaklawn, said Stall, and worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds here Sunday for G M B Racing.

“We’re excited,” said Stall. “He runs extremely well off the bench.”

Stall said Joel Rosario has the mount in the Oaklawn Mile. Rosario is 4 for 4 on Tom’s d’Etat and was aboard for his last two races -- wins in the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland on Oct. 26 and the Grade 1 Clark on Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.

Stall trainee Bobby’s Wicked One remains on deck for the Grade 3, $350,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn. He breezed for the April 18 race on Monday, going a half-mile in 50 seconds. Bobby’s Wicked One is in from Fair Grounds, where he was a dominant winner of the Duncan F. Kenner in his last start Jan. 18.

“We picked the Count Fleet out for him as soon as he ran that last race,” Stall said. “The race is pushed back a week, which is no big deal. He’s fresh as he can be and is sitting on a killer effort, it seems like to us.”

Bobby’s Wicked One is a 5-year-old son of Speightstown owned by Autumn Hill Farms Racing Stables. For his win in the Duncan F. Kenner he earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 103.