War Campaign gets first stakes win in Tinsel

War Campaign became a stakes winner Saturday, when he came through along the rail on the final turn of the $200,000 Tinsel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and went on to a 1 1/2-length victory over Speed Bias. It was another length back in third to Strong Quality.

The Tinsel was for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/8 miles. It was run on a muddy, sealed track.

War Campaign ($14.60) settled in third along the rail as Strong Quality set the pace with Speed Bias in close pursuit. Strong Quality turned out fractions of 23.27 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.21 for a half-mile, and 1:11.54 for six furlongs. War Campaign found room along the inside from there, moved to the fore in the stretch, and kept Speed Bias at bay to cover the distance in 1:49.80.

Emmanuel Esquivel was aboard the winner for trainer Phil Sims.

“Everything went perfect,” Esquivel told Oaklawn publicity. “He broke running. After that, I didn’t let him fall back too much. He was fresh. I was loaded the whole way around.”

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War Campaign is a son of Declaration of War who races for his breeder, Jerry Namy. He is a half-brother to Flash of Mischief, a multiple stakes winner of more than $780,000. War Campaign has now won 4 of 16 starts and has compiled career earnings of $556,664.

Quinonez nears 4,000 wins

Jockey Luis Quinonez won the 3,999th race of his career in Saturday’s nightcap at Oaklawn, when Rivercrest Girl ($22) shuttled through the lane to get up nearing the wire. Quinonez had picked up career winner No. 3,998 on Friday night at Remington Park in the $75,000 Jeffrey Hawk Memorial aboard U. S. Army

Quinonez, 56, has mounts in the ninth and 10th races Sunday at Oaklawn.

Following the card Sunday, Oaklawn will go on Christmas break. Racing will resume Dec. 29.

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