Ice Tries for First Stakes Win
Trainer Tim Ice has been an assistant trainer for the past ten years for trainers Cole Norman, Morris Nicks, and Keith Desormeaux, and has been coming to Oaklawn for the last six years. Now in his first year of training at Oaklawn, the former assistant has had a breakthrough season.
The trainer has been in the winners circle with a number of horses for prominent owners Kalankkal and Vilasini Jayaraman. Ice has a busy weekend with a number of horses in upcoming stakes races.
“I’ll be a little nervous the rest of the meeting. We have two fillies in the Rainbow Miss, a colt in the Rainbow, Catmantoo in the Oaklawn Handicap, and Summer Bird in the Arkansas Derby,” mentioned Ice. “I’m sure I will be nervous coming up to each of these races, especially the Arkansas Derby. I’m lucky to train these type of horses. I am privileged.”
“Summer Bird is the real deal. I got him in early January from John Sadler, who had him in California where the colt had some feet problems. Distance doesn’t seem to be any problem for him,” commented Ice, “Once he gets some experience, I’m sure we will hear more from him. I’m excited about his future.”
“I was so happy with Catmantoo’s race in the Razorback. He ran third, beaten a length in that one, and the one before that, he won an allowance race here,” Ice reflected. “He’s a very consistent horse, usually bringing home a check. He’s been in the money more times than not.”
In just his first year of training horses, Ice will look to record his first stakes victory in the upcoming weeks, and has a couple of shots to do so at Oaklawn.
Rainbow and Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes Headline Sunday Card
Arkansas top colts and geldings will have their moments in the spotlight on Sunday as the $50,000 Rainbow Stakes for three-year-olds and the inaugural running of the Nodouble Breeders Stakes headline the card.
The Rainbow Stakes will be the first of the stakes races on Sunday. Going off as the fifth race on the card, the six furlong event will feature a field of six three-year-old Arkansas bred colts.
Trainer Tim Ice’s Blushing Romeo headlines the pack for the Rainbow Stakes. In his most recent outing the son of Proudest Romeo ran second in an allowance race against open company. “We have been pointing him for the Rainbow since opening week here,” said Ice. “He has been doing well, and has improved with each start.” Chris Rosier will be in the saddle on Sunday. Blushing Romeo will break from the three hole.
On the far outside trainer Kenny Smith (pictured) will send out Coyotepass. The son of Pikepass has scored back to back wins in his last two outings at Oaklawn. In his most recent score, Coyotepass rated off the pace in an allowance race against state breds. Tim Doocy will be aboard for the Rainbow Stakes.
The complete field, listed with trainer and jockey: Ile St. Louisville, Jorge Lara, Chris Emigh; Storming Back, Cash Asmussen, Tony McNeil; Texas Birdstone, Steve Asmussen, Luis Quinonez; Chadnjamie, Dewaine Loy, Alex Birzer. The Rainbow Stakes has a post time of 3:21 p.m. CDT.
The first running of the $50,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes headlines the Sunday card. The ninth race includes a field of eight including the coupled entry of Sheriff Hotdog and Cresan for trainer David Whited.
The likely favorite will be Ain’t He a Pistol for trainer Tom Howard. The seven-year-old Country Store gelding enters the Nodouble off a win in an allowance race on February 19th. The bay gelding, who was claimed for $5,000, has earned his keep by finishing no worse than third in all of his starts off the claim. Perry Compton will be in the saddle for Sunday’s race.
David Whited’s coupled entry of Sheriff Hotdog and Cresan will garner some play on Sunday. Sheriff Hotdog broke his maiden in gate to wire fashion in his most recent outing under regular rider Larry Melancon, who will be back in the saddle once again. Cresan will be making his fourth start of the meet and looking to take his second win. Joe Johnson has the call on Cresan. Both horses are sired by top Arkansas stud Storm and a Half.
The completed field listed with trainer and jockey:Precious Colony, Danny Pish, Quincy Hamilton; Roll On Roll On, Scotty McNair, Chris Rosier; Explosive Ghazie, Stanley Roberts, Dylan Williams; Time For Etbauer, Tim Glyshaw, Terry Thompson; Kippersol, Lynn Chleborad, Belen Quinonez.
Post time for the Rainbow Stakes will be 5:11 p.m. CDT and it will be the ninth race on the ten race card.
A Little Bit More
Rebel winner Win Willy (pictured) stretched his legs this morning working a half mile in preparation for his upcoming engagement in the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby on Saturday, April 11th. Working in the second set after the break under Cliff Berry, Win Willy worked a half mile in 48.40. Trainer Mac Robertson was pleased with the move, “He does everything so easily, and stretches out nicely. It was a good work. We will give him one more breeze before the Arkansas Derby.”
Owner Michael Langford said his barn star Jonesboro will likely reappear next in the Count Fleet on Friday, April 10th. “We want to keep him short for now. He is ready to run, he’s sharp right now. We have figured out that the best distance for him is seven-eighths to a mile. There is a pretty good chance he will be in the Count Fleet.” In his last appearance at Oaklawn, Jonesboro finished a disappointing sixth in the Razorback Handicap on March 7th.
|