Triple Crown nominee Rapid Dial sprints in Sunday feature

Rapid Dial, who last week was announced as one of the late nominees to the Triple Crown, will meet winners for the first time in the eighth race Sunday at Oaklawn. The optional $62,500 claiming sprint for 3-year-olds will be run over six furlongs. It drew a field of eight.

Rapid Dial was a smashing debut winner March 11 at Oaklawn, where he was always prominent for a 2 3/4-length victory in a maiden special weight race. He covered six furlongs in a quick 1:09.60. Rapid Dial, a son of Dialed In trained by Ingrid Mason, will break from post 4 under Ramon Vazquez.

Vazquez was tied atop the rider standings through Thursday with Geovanni Franco.

The chief threat to Rapid Dial could be Doc Kane, who is returning to the overnight ranks after a fourth-place finish to Rockshaw in the $125,000 Gazebo at Oaklawn.

◗ Oaklawn has reported 333 claims at this meet through Thursday, for $4,448,750 in transactions among stables. The claiming will continue through the close of the meet April 15.