Old Fashioned Gets Oaklawn’s Top Jockey
Leading jockey Terry Thompson (pictured aboard Old Fashioned) has dominated the fierce riding colony at this Oaklawn meet so far. The 37-year-old jockey held a commanding lead atop the jockey standings with 38 wins over Chris Emigh, who sits in second with 26 winners, as of Thursday’s races. Not bad for one of Oaklawn’s fan favorites.
To put icing on the cake, trainer Larry Jones announced that Thompson will now ride Fox Hill Farms’ Old Fashioned in the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby on April 11th. Thompson has been no stranger to the Arkansas Derby as he won the 2003 edition with Sir Cherokee. The duo of Jones and Thompson also have had success in years past, winning the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn with Ruby’s Reception and the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on Island Sand.
“I have been getting on the colt in the mornings working him, and we have worked well together. He is an easy colt to ride, there is nothing tricky about him,” mentioned Thompson before Friday’s races. “The first time I worked this horse, I knew he was a prospect. There is a presence about him. When I am on Old Fashioned, I have the feeling of being on something special.”
It was Thompson who guided the son of Unbridled’s Song to his first two victories as a two-year-old. In his second career start, Old Fashioned won an allowance race in commanding victory under Thompson by 15 and half lengths. Following that victory jockey Ramon Dominguez took over the riding duties on the colt. Now Thompson returns to attempt to take his second Arkansas Derby.
“When I rode Sir Cherokee in the Arkansas Derby, he paid $113.00 to win, I don’t think you will get that kind of return on Old Fashioned,” laughed Thompson. “Old Fashioned has a lot of ability, a lot of potential. Another thing I really like about him is that he learns quickly. You only have to show him one thing and he remembers it. I’m excited about getting the opportunity to ride Old Fashioned.”
Thompson has his sights set on the riding title at Oaklawn, now he can set his sights on Old Fashioned in the Arkansas Derby.
Prima Donna Tops Out at Five
The 16th edition of the Prima Donna took shape on Friday and will feature a field of five for the six furlong event. The Sunday feature will have two of Oaklawn’s top three-year-old filly sprinters in She’s Our Annie and Mrs Cindy’s Walkin.
She’s Our Annie enters the Prima Donna off two impressive back-to-back wins. William “Jinks” Fires brings the three-year-old daughter in off her most impressive win to date winning an allowance optional claiming race by six lengths. “We have always known that she has had ability. We gave her time to work through some issues, and that has really paid off for her,” commented Fires. “Everything for her has been so far, so good.” Jon Court, who has ridden the filly in all of her starts, will once again be in the saddle for the Prima Donna. She’s Our Annie, owned by Destiny Oaks of Ocala LLC, will break from post position four.
Top trainer in the country by wins, Steve Asmussen (pictured) will bring two fillies into the Prima Donna. Auspicious, who has won her last two races and will take her first try in stakes company, and Simplify, who will be making her second start off a lengthy layoff. “Auspicious we want to try and ease into stakes company and this looked like a good spot. After her race at Churchill Downs, we gave her a little time to develop, and that benefited her,” mentioned Asmussen by phone. “Simplify showed she could run at an early age. We also gave her a break and a chance to develop and that has helped her out as well.” Shaun Bridgmohan will be in from New Orleans to ride Auspicious, who breaks from the rail. Luis Quinonez will ride Simplify from post position three.
The other two fillies in the race are Mrs Cindy’s Walkin and On the Menu. Mrs Cindy’s Walkin enters the Prima Donna off two impressive allowance wins at Oaklawn. The Cactus Ridge filly will have the riding services of Tanner Riggs, who has scored all four victories on the Don Von Hemel trainee. Mrs Cindy’s Walkin will break from the post two on Sunday.
On the Menu appears in the Prima Donna off a third place finish in the Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds. The Larry Jones trainee has had success with the distance, winning both prior attempts at six furlongs. Terry Thompson will ride the Canadian Frontier filly, and will break from post position five.
Post time for the Sunday feature will be 5:11 p.m. CDT, and will be the ninth race on the ten race card.
A Little Bit More
Fans are reminded that tomorrow the Arkansas Council of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) will have another jockey autograph session. Jockeys Eddie Razo (pictured), Luis Quinonez, and Tim Doocy will be autographing pictures from 11 a.m. until noon. The autographs cost a dollar a piece, and all money earned will go towards the RTCA.
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