Arkansas Derby Gets New Contender
After round two of Oaklawn’s three-year-old series, Win Willy (pictured) stamped his name on the road to the Arkansas Derby and also garnered a three million dollar offer for his purchase, according to trainer Mac Robertson. The offer was declined and Robertson will start preparing his barn star for the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 11th.
Win Willy, at odds of 56-1, upset the heavy favorite Old Fashioned, who trainer Larry Jones said came out of the Rebel in good shape and showed that going the mile and one-sixteenth distance was no problem. Win Willy improved his record to three wins from four starts, and bumped his earnings up to $210,070.
The $300,000 Rebel Stakes gave Robertson one of his biggest wins in his young career. “Oaklawn Park is my favorite track. It was my favorite even before I won the Rebel yesterday,” laughed Robertson. “I got Win Willy last year at Canterbury Park. I knew he was a good prospect the first time I ran him. His second race wasn’t a good one for him, and he came out of it with sore shins. We gave him some time off, and he came back well.”
“I was sure he would run a big race yesterday. Inside the stretch, I realized we would be no worse than second. Before the eighth pole, I really felt good. Cliff rode a great race. I have complained to him a few times at Remington Park, where he is king, but I will have to take it all back now,” commented the trainer. “We need to give this colt a lot of credit. He broke from the outside post, then circled the rivals, and was drawing clear at the end of the race.”
Asked how his star acts around the barn, Robertson replied, “He has a wonderful personality on the racetrack. Around the barn, he is a total jerk. He wants his own way. The owner lets me do things my way with the colt. I tell him that he can yell at me and that’s fine, but he lets me handle the colt my way.”
Sent off as the second longest price on the board, Win Willy returned a hefty payout to his backers of $115.60. “I didn’t bet on him,” admitted Robertson. “The owner wagered on him, and gave some tickets to the colts groom, worth around $11,000. Yes, the groom was at the barn ready to go to work this morning, maybe not in the best of shape if you know what I mean, but he did show up and that was the important factor.”
Although Win Willy has not been nominated to the Triple Crown, Robertson assured he will be before long.
Rachel Alexandra Back Home
Oaklawn’s top three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra (pictured) was back in her stall as of early Sunday afternoon after her dominant win the Fair Grounds Oaks on Saturday. The Medaglia D’Oro filly will now be the likely favorite for the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes on April 5th.
The talented filly improved her record to five wins from seven starts and doubled her bankroll with her win yesterday to $471,440. Jockey Calvin Borel made sure his top mount Rachel Alexandra got all the credit she deserved coming down the lane easing her up at the sixteenth pole and letting her gallop home.
“I got some calls about Calvin this morning, we told him next time to celebrate after they have crossed the wire,” laughed Wiggins. “She ran so well, and came out of the race in good shape. She will walk five or six days, and then she will head back to the track, and will probably work one more time before her next race.”
The main question now is where Rachel Alexandra will run next. “The owners are leaning heavily to the Fantasy Stakes right now. The Arkansas Derby is still being considered, but right now it looks like she will go to the Fantasy,” mentioned Wiggins by phone on Sunday. “It will give her four weeks between the Fantasy and the Oaks rather than three weeks, and we think she needs enough time in between races.”
“She is definitely one of the best fillies I have ever trained. She handles everything so well, and does everything so easy. In the race yesterday we were a little concerned with the racetrack being sloppy, but she showed that it was no problem,” commented the veteran trainer. “Calvin sent her to the lead, and she relaxed so nicely, and it really worked out for her.”
Wiggins, after the big win on Saturday, was taking a brief vacation to visit his grandchildren in Houston, Texas.
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