Woodcourt aims to take another step forward in competitive allowance

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Staton Flurry jetted to Pennsylvania to watch a recent private purchase win a few days ago and is now back home at Oaklawn Park hoping for more of the same on Sunday with Woodcourt.

“We’ll see if we can keep the momentum going,” said Flurry.

Woodcourt is part of a field of 10 for a second-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles. He is making his fourth start for Flurry after he bought a half-interest in the horse in November from owner and trainer Cipriano Contreras.

Flurry’s quick trip to Parx Racing was to see Like a Saltshaker run Wednesday. He captured a starter allowance in his second start for Flurry.

“I bought him privately at the beginning of Oaklawn,” Flurry said. “He’s a Pennsylvania-bred. He went up there, and he’s run good. He won a little starter allowance, got a Pennsylvania-bred bonus.”

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Woodcourt has moved forward with each passing start for Flurry. He was eighth in the Zia Park Derby, fourth in a second-level allowance at Oaklawn, and second at the same level in his most recent start Jan. 25.

“Other than the race at Zia – he just didn’t like the track surface out there – he’s been really good to us here,” Flurry said. “He ran fourth his first out. He got bumped and it probably cost us second or third, then last race he showed back up, ran against Bishops Bay, who is in excellent form. Just a tough horse. We were real pleased with that effort and hopefully he’ll take another step forward for us come Sunday.”

Woodcourt, an earner of more than $500,000, will break from the rail under Emmanuel Esquivel.

“He shown he’s pretty versatile,” Flurry said. “He can run on the lead or come from off of it.”

Flurry has other horses in training with Contreras, among them a 3-year-old son of Twirling Candy named Zero Sugar who will soon make his career debut at Oaklawn.

“In my opinion, Cippy’s one of the best on the backside,” Flurry said. “He’s such an old-school horseman. I’m so happy to be able to partner with him on Woodcourt. We’re just having some fun.”

The chief threats in a highly competitive race include Sir Greylind, who is coming off a runner-up finish in an overnight stakes at Oaklawn, and Archie the Giza, who set the pace in the same race in his first start since July.

Rebel draw Sunday

Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope on Thursday had a working list of 10 to 12 possible starters for the Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel that runs next Saturday, Feb. 22. Entries for the Kentucky Derby points race are to be taken on Sunday.

The list of potential Rebel starters includes Bullard, Coal Battle, Dreaminblue, Hypnus, Innovator, Sandman, Speed King, and Tiztastic.

Pope said he hopes to card a total of 12 races on Rebel Day and have an early first post of 12 p.m. Central.

Oaklawn is offering six stakes, which would be the most run on a Rebel Day, said Pope. The Grade 3, $500,000 Honeybee is a points race for the Kentucky Oaks.

“I’m thinking between seven and nine for the Honeybee,” said Pope.

“If everything goes as planned, there will be no claiming races. It will be all stakes, maiden special weights, and allowances.”

◗ Oaklawn-based riders Rafael Bejarano, Harry Hernandez, and Ramon Vazquez have mounts in the Sunland Park Derby on Sunday.

◗ Oaklawn will put on a holiday card Monday, with the Ozark Stakes set as the feature.

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