Van Berg getting troops ready for Trail's End

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Tom Van Berg is assembling an army for the $125,000 Trail’s End at the conclusion of the Oaklawn Park meet, and one of his four soldiers eyeing the race, Indian Gulch, is entered in the seventh race on Thursday.

The first-level allowance is for 4-year-olds and up over 1 3/16 miles. The race drew a competitive field of 12, plus two also-eligibles. Sun Thunder could go favored, while Alexander Helios should get support as a half-brother to Preakness winner Rombauer. The race also could produce starters for the $200,000 Temperence Hill at 1 1/2 miles on March 29.

Indian Gulch is being pointed to the Trail’s End, a 1 3/4-mile starter allowance that has been moved to the meet’s new closing date, May 5. It’s the traditional season finale, and Indian Gulch was third in the race in 2022. On Thursday, he is coming off a win over $10,000 starter-allowance foes at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 17.

“The starter didn’t go for him last weekend. That’s why we had to put him in the allowance,” Van Berg said. “I do think it’s a good spot for him to take on allowance competition. I think he fits in there really nicely.”

Van Berg said the distance is the main draw for Indian Gulch.

“That’s why he’s in Thursday,” Van Berg said.

Indian Gulch is the winningest member of the field with 16 victories. Van Berg also noted that two races ago Indian Gulch was third in a starter allowance at Churchill Downs won by Secret Pocket, who came back in his next start to win a first-level allowance at Oaklawn.

Francisco Arrieta has the mount on Indian Gulch, who runs from off the pace. He will break from post 11.

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Van Berg’s other runners working their way toward the Trail’s End are Big Paper, a winner last week at Oaklawn; Nepal Up, who was second in the Feb. 17 race won by Indian Gulch; and Knight’s Cross, a multiple winner at 1 1/4 miles who is racing at Turfway.

“We’ve got four in the bin and we’ll see what happens,” Van Berg said. “Hopefully, we get all of them there, and at the least, a couple of them.”

Big Paper captured a $16,000 starter allowance over 1 1/16 miles March 8. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 82 and became the barn’s latest hopeful for the Trail’s End.

“He was claimed specifically for that, because I loved the bottom side of his pedigree,” said Van Berg, noting the horse’s close family ties to stamina sources A.P. Indy and Summer Squall.

Indian Gulch on Thursday faces a competitive group. Sun Thunder was third against first-level allowance competition in his last start Feb. 24. Ramon Vazquez has the mount from post 12 for trainer Kenny McPeek.

The card Thursday also includes an entry-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs. It goes as the eighth and is led by Media Mogul, a 5-year-old half-brother to champion Arcangelo who was second at this level in his last start Feb. 23. Chris Landeros has the mount for trainer Boyd Caster.

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