Will Rogers: Jazzin' Okie class of the Distaff Sprint

Jazzin’ Okie will be giving up recency on Monday when she makes her first start in more than five months in the $55,000 Cherokee Casino Distaff Sprint at Will Rogers Downs. But what she lacks in recency, she makes up for in class.

Jazzin’ Okie is one of just two stakes winners in the six-furlong race for Oklahoma-bred fillies and mares. The other is Lady Jensen.

The Distaff Sprint is the first stakes of the Will Rogers meet that opened in March. A field of nine has signed on, including Shez Tuned Up, who is a candidate to wire the field, and Thisladyisadiamond, who comes off a first-level allowance win at Will Rogers.

But neither is as accomplished as Jazzin’ Okie, who last year won the $54,000 Wilma Mankiller over open company at Will Rogers. She romped by five lengths in the six-furlong stakes that came in her second start following a year layoff. On Monday, Jazzin’ Okie will be making her first start since finishing sixth on Oct. 19 in a quick running of the $113,000 Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprint at Remington Park.

Jazzin’ Okie has worked sharply for her return, among her moves a bullet half-mile in 47.80 seconds at Will Rogers on March 29. The drill was the fastest of 24 at the distance. Jazzin’ Okie will break from post 3, and as a fresh horse who has some speed she might get a decent stalking trip under jockey Jose Medina.

Jazzin’ Okie is a 5-year-old daughter of Candy Ride and the five-time stakes-winning mare Jazzy Okie. She races for her breeders, the Richter Family Trust. Kenneth Nolen, who has gone 7 for 14 with his starters this meet at Will Rogers, trains Jazzin’ Okie.

Lady Jensen will be cutting back to one turn and rejoining the Oklahoma-bred ranks for the Distaff Sprint. The last time she raced under such conditions she won the $50,000 Useeit at seven furlongs at Remington on Dec. 9.

Lady Jensen is a closer, and a concern is that Monday’s six-furlong trip might be a bit less than optimum for the filly who is by Bob and John. Travis Wales has the mount for trainer Amy McAnally.

Thisladyisadiamond stalked and rolled in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance in her last start March 5. Since the win she has been flattered, with the runner-up from the race, Shez Tuned Up, and the fifth-place finisher, Downtowncarolbrown, both coming back to win conditioned allowances at Will Rogers.