Danger to Society Arrives at Oaklawn
When a plane carrying four contenders for the upcoming Racing Festival of the South landed at the Hot Springs Memorial airport everyone knew that trainer Rick Dutrow would be sending Danger to Society for the upcoming Arkansas Derby, but nobody knew he would be sending out top assistant Michelle Nevin.
Nevin works for prominent trainer Rick Dutrow and gallops some of his heavy hitters such as Kip Deville, Arson Squad, and right now Danger to Society. In 2008 Nevin was never seen without Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown. Now in 2009 Nevin comes to Oaklawn with Arkansas Derby contender Danger to Society.
“He is an honest horse that loves to train in the mornings,” mentioned Nevin this morning. “He doesn’t act at all like Big Brown. Big Brown was competitive and had a tough guy attitude, whereas Danger to Society is laid back and relaxed.”
“We hope to put a work in him on Tuesday depending on the weather,” commented Nevin. “Rick is trying to work out the details to come in for the race and saddle. We are excited about the Arkansas Derby and hopefully we get a chance to go back to the Kentucky Derby.”
Danger to Society was sent off the heavy favorite in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park where he ran a disappointing seventh. A son of Harlan’s Holiday, Danger to Society will make his third start going a mile and one-eighth and will be looking for his third win from four starts. In order to make the twenty horse field for the Kentucky Derby, Danger to Society will have to run first or second in the Arkansas Derby.
Rachel Alexandra Has Four to Compete Against In Fantasy
The $250,000 Fantasy Stakes will send five fillies to the gate in an attempt to earn Oaklawn’s honors as top three-year-old filly. Rachel Alexandra will be the main focus for Sunday’s feature, but there are four fillies willing to try their luck against the Medaglia d’Oro filly.
Rachel Alexandra has dictated her last three starts where she won each by a combined 14 and one-half lengths. The Hal Wiggins trainee seems to improve off every race and will face her toughest competitor yet, in Larry Jones’ Just Jenda (pictured). Rachel Alexandra will have Calvin Borel in the saddle again. In her only try over the Oaklawn track, Rachel Alexandra took the Martha Washington Stakes by eight lengths.
Just Jenda will look for her third win of 2009 and her second at the Oaklawn meeting. Last out the Menifee filly took the Honeybee Stakes by three lengths, but will have Rachel Alexandra to contend with in the Fantasy this time out. Trainer Larry Jones has had Just Jenda in the money five times out of six career starts. Jockey Gabriel Saez will be aboard for Just Jenda’s race on Sunday.
Tim Ritchey’s Bon Jovi Girl will be trying for her first stakes win of 2009. The Malibu Moon filly has recorded one win at the Spa in an allowance optional claiming race in February. She then stepped up into stakes company in the Honeybee Stakes where she set the early pace and faded to third. Jose Caraballo has the call on Bon Jovi Girl for the Fantasy.
The other two starters in the Fantasy are Afleet Deceit and Cats. Terry Gestes sends out Afleet Deceit to her third stakes try at Oaklawn. The Northern Afleet filly has posted two consecutive second place finishes over this track, and will look for the second victory of her career. Cliff Berry will have the mount in the Sunday feature. Cats represent the barn of D. Wayne Lukas. The Storm Cat filly will be making her first start against winners, as she just broke her maiden in her last outing on March 15th. Cats will also be stretching out for the first time in the mile and one-sixteenth race. Israel Ocampo will be aboard for the filly’s first stakes start.
The Fantasy Stakes will be run as the ninth race on Sunday’s card with a post time of 5:11 p.m. CDT.
A Little Bit More
Doocy watch continues today as the veteran journeyman took win 4,998 in the sixth race on Sense of Home for trainer Rick Jackson. Only two wins remain until Doocy earns his 5,000thcareer victory.
William “Jinks” Fires sent out Fifth Season starter Spotsgone (pictured) for his final breeze before Thursday’s race. The six-year-old son of Bright Launch worked an easy five panels in 1:02.2 under regular rider Joe Johnson.
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