Top Gunner looks to join Ortiz's group of classy sprinters
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer John Ortiz has unleashed some notable sprinters at the current Oaklawn Park meet, from Hollis to Mucho to Gar Hole.
Now comes Top Gunner.
The promising son of Into Mischief goes in the featured eighth race Friday. It’s a six-furlong allowance for 3-year-olds and up who have never won four races. The stakes winners County Final and Flap Jack are among the seven horses entered, as is the multiple stakes-placed Lykan.
Top Gunner was stakes-placed in January, when he ran third in the $75,000 Stonerside Sprint at Sam Houston Race Park. Greeley and Ben won the key race over multiple stakes winner Mr Money Bags. Both of those horses returned to win in their next starts, while Top Gunner returned to his Oaklawn base and has since run second in back-to-back allowances in February and March.
“He always bounces right back after each race,” Ortiz said. “He’s full of energy. We kind of wanted to give him another shot at the meet.”
Top Gunner was beaten 1 1/4 lengths last out by Mojo Man, who is scheduled to run back Saturday at Oaklawn in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap. Top Gunner’s runner-up finish improved his local record to two wins and two seconds from five starts at Oaklawn.
“He’s a horse for the course,” Ortiz said. “We debated running him in the Count Fleet, but opted for the allowance. It’s a more fitting spot for him.”
Top Gunner gets a chance at a somewhat rare nonwinners-of-four-lifetime condition – perfect for the horse who is 3 for 13 overall. The purse for the race is $107,000.
Tiago Pereira has the mount on Top Gunner for 4 G Racing. Top Gunner will break from post 3.
“He’s a front-running horse,” Ortiz said. “He can sit right off the pace. If they give him the lead, he can take the lead, too.”
Top Gunner could get an ideal tracking trip off County Final, who will break to his immediate inside from post 2. County Final is moving back to six furlongs after setting the pace in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance won by Hollis. The race went in a blazing 1:03.16. Earlier in the meet, Hollis set a track record at the distance, going in 1:02.17 and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 109.
Hollis is now being freshened and this week was to ship to Churchill Downs, Ortiz said. Gar Hole, who went 4 for 5 at this Oaklawn meet, also is being freshened.
As for County Final, trainer Steve Asmussen has given the mount to Isaac Castillo. Earlier in his career, the horse won the $71,000 Tyro at five furlongs on a good main track at Monmouth Park.
Lykan exits the same race as Top Gunner and finished a late-running third. Earlier in his career, Lykan ran second in a pair of six-furlong stakes at Oaklawn. Elvin Gonzalez has the mount for trainer Ingrid Mason.
Oaklawn has an abbreviated race week. Following the Friday card, the only other race day is Saturday. Oaklawn will not race Sunday in observance of Easter.