Barn notes 2/22 | Sports & Recreation

Horse of the Year Havre de Grace Targeting Oaklawn Return

Oaklawn stands to once again provide the stage for superstar champions with the Wednesday announcement that Fox Hill Farm’s 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace will return to Hot Springs for the $150,000 Azeri Stakes (G3) March 17.

Trained by Larry Jones, Havre de Grace started her campaign last year with a win in the same race and also conquered the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn. She went on to wins in Delaware and New York including a victory over males in the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga last September. She finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in her most recent start in November and was named Horse of the Year in January.

Owner Rick Porter announced on Fox Hill Farm’s website that the 5-year-old Saint Liam mare would target a return to the Azeri and that reigning two-time Eclipse champion jockey Ramon Dominguez would be aboard. It is an embarrassment of riches for the Wilmington, Del., car dealer with both Havre de Grace and 2011 Fantasy Stakes (G2) winner Joyful Victory already underway on her 4-year-old campaign.

“Larry and I have mapped out some possible races for the next few months,” Porter said on rockportharbor.com. “We decided that the best choice for Havre de Grace’s first race of the year is The Azeri. Joyful Victory will run at The Fairgrounds in The New Orleans Ladies Stakes on the same day.”

The Azeri is 1 1/16th miles and under the allowance conditions of the race, Havre de Grace would likely carry 117 pounds. Last year she renewed her rivalry with 2010 3-year-old filly champion Blind Luck. Her leading local rival this time figures to be Briland Farm’s Absinthe Minded, who has two wins already this season including last Saturday’s $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes.

Havre de Grace’s presence would amplify what figures to be a huge day as the Azeri shares billing with the $500,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) – the next stop for Triple Crown hopefuls on the lucrative road to the Arkansas Derby (G1).

“Rebel Stakes Day is traditionally our second biggest day of the meet behind Derby Day and this would certainly be a great addition,” said David Longinotti, Assistant General Manager of Racing.

Havre de Grace became the fourth straight horse and fifth straight Horse of the Year winner to be associated with Oaklawn beginning with Curlin in 2007 when he won the Arkansas Derby and Rebel en route to taking the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). He repeated as Horse of the Year in 2008 upon becoming the richest horse of all time. Oaklawn has since been a part of the unprecedented run by three straight females to the Horse of the Year crown, with Rachel Alexandra taking the Fantasy (G2) in 2009 prior to winning the Preakness, Zenyatta winning the Apple Blossom twice in 2008 and 2010 for two of her 19 straight victories and Havre de Grace last year.

Southwest Stars Start to Plot Next Steps

The plane that brought the winners of both divisions of the $250,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Monday at Oaklawn returned to California Wednesday, though their trainer Bob Baffert has already vowed – Gen. MacArthur-like, “I shall return.”

Castaway and Secret Circle strode back aboard the Tex Sutton charter two days after their front-running scores in the split one-mile heats. With them was Longview Drive, who finished in a disappointing tie for sixth in the first division behind Castaway for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Division 1 favorite Unbridled’s Note will remain at trainer Steve Asmussen’s Oaklawn branch office after failing to fire in what was his second career race.

Division 1 runner-up Jake Mo was doing well in the barn of leading trainer Allen Milligan with a potential run in next month’s $500,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) “on the table,” according to his handlers. Division 2 runner-up Scatman was “bright, bug-eyed and hopping” shortly after pushing Secret Circle to a quick finishing time according to trainer Michael Lauer’s assistant Kim Baronowski.

Adirondack King is remaining at Oaklawn for trainer John Servis and was sticking with his routine Wednesday after his 3rd-place finish in the second division. Reckless Jerry seemed to have “very little taken out of him” according to trainer Kenny Smith after his slightly troubled third-place finish in the first division. Indications are both horses will appear next in the Rebel, though Smith may choose to wait until the Arkansas Derby April 14 instead.

Smarty Jones Stakes winner Junebugred emerged from his letdown in the first division in relatively good fashion according to trainer Steve Hobby.

“It looks like it was a whole combination of things that got us,” Hobby said. “The main thing is he picked up a lot of weight to carry off that win, and he’s not that big a horse. Then he sat back a bit farther off the slower pace and that didn’t help. We’ll regroup, see how he goes the next few weeks and decide where we go.”

Other notes out of the Southwest include the decision by trainer Tim Ice to give one more dirt test for No Spin after finishing in the three-way dead heat for sixth in the first version. The colt will head to New Mexico for the Sunland Park Derby (G3) March 25. He is co-owned by Dr. Leonard Blach, one of the partners with 2009 Kentucky Derby upsetter Mine That Bird, who famously put the race outside El Paso, Texas, on the Derby Trail map.

Apprehender, who never settled while chasing the pace of the second division before fading to ninth, had a mild bout of colic after what was his second career race. Trainer Ingrid Mason said the gelding will aim for easier sprint races for the time being.