Two allowances at Oaklawn feature players from three Hall of Famers

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hall of Fame trainers Steve Asmussen, Jerry Hollendorfer, and D. Wayne Lukas will account for five of the seven horses entered in Friday’s fourth race at Oaklawn Park.

The first-level allowance for 3-year-olds at six furlongs has a $100,000 claiming option that has been utilized by Forty Stripes. The race is one of two high-end sprint offerings on the card. The eighth race will see the return of stakes winner Jalen Journey.

Lukas is changing things up with Ignitis in the fourth race. The son of Nyquist has been a regular around two turns this meet, but is cutting back in distance from a third-place finish over 1 1/16 miles in a Feb. 26 allowance at Oaklawn.

“I’m going to experiment by running him short,” Lukas said. “I want to see how he handles six furlongs. If he does that well, I’ll take him probably to the Lafayette, which is a seven-eighths race for 3-year-olds at Keeneland.”

The $400,000 Lafayette is April 8.

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Ignitis won his maiden over seven furlongs at Keeneland in October and was later third around two turns in the $250,000 Smarty Jones in January at Oaklawn. Ignitis is a half-brother to Windmill, a stakes winner at six furlongs. Luis Contreras has the mount from post 2 for Holy Cow Stables.

Asmussen will counter with Cogburn and Pressure. Cogburn is making his first start since a September win in a maiden special weight at six furlongs at Churchill Downs. He covered the distance in a quick 1:09.79. Joel Rosario has the mount from post 3.

Pressure was a close fourth in a Feb. 11 allowance at Oaklawn, two starts after winning his maiden here Dec. 4. Ramon Vazquez has the mount from post 4.

Hollendorfer has Forty Stripes and Penetrator. Forty Stripes was the runner-up in the $119,000 Smoke Glacken in September at Monmouth. In more recent times, he was fifth in the same race as Pressure. Martin Garcia has the mount from post 6.

Penetrator is coming off an eight-length win in a $50,000 maiden-claiming sprint Feb. 11 at Oaklawn. Cristian Torres has the mount from post 7.

In the eighth race, Jalen Journey is making his first start since September against fellow stakes winners Boldor, Mojo Man, Chipofftheoldblock, Home Base, and Quick Tempo.

The conditioned allowance is for 4-year-olds and up over six furlongs and could produce starters for the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 16 at Oaklawn.

Jalen Journey had his number put up in the Grade 3 De Francis Memorial Dash last out at Laurel. Earlier in the year, he won allowances at Oaklawn, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.

“He’s a nice sprinter,” Asmussen said. “This is a good spot to get started back.

“He had a really good year last year, and hopefully he has another good year this year.”

Rosario has the mount from post 8.

Home Base is looking for his third win of the year after January and March scores at Oaklawn. In between those starts, he was second in the $150,000 King Cotton won by Bob’s Edge, who has since captured the Grade 3, $200,000 Whitmore at Oaklawn.