Gary Stute Rides Papa Clem’s Roller Coaster
Gary Stute has plenty of experience with claiming and allowance level horses, but the trainer has never had a derby horse until now. Papa Clem will give Stute his first shot at the run for the roses, but first most, a run for $1,000,000 in the Arkansas Derby.
Papa Clem first earned national attention when he ran second to Pioneerof the Nile in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. Since then the son of Smart Strike ran behind current Kentucky Derby favorite Friesian Fire in the Louisiana Derby down in New Orleans. Gary learned the horse racing trade from his father Mel Stute, who in 1987 trained Snow Chief to win the Oaklawn Handicap.
“Larry Jones’ stable is in the Snow Chief barn here at Oaklawn,” commented Stute. “So that makes it Old Fashioned’s home, who is our main rival in the Arkansas Derby. Old Fashioned was undefeated and looked invincible. Then came the Rebel and he lost. I decided there could be a chink in this armor, so we decided to come on to Oaklawn.”
This isn’t Gary’s first trip to Oaklawn. The trainer had a string of horses here about 20 years ago. “I love coming here to Hot Springs. The climate and water are good, and I love a dirt track,” smiled the trainer. “My father loved to come here also.”
Owner Bo Hirsch bred Papa Clem, and if the last name sounds familiar, it’s because Bo’s father Clement Hirsch was founder of Oak Tree at Santa Anita. “When I got him as a two-year-old, he impressed me at once. I had a small stable and not a strong one. Papa Clem stood out against the horses that I had,” reflected Stute. “I am returning to my home base in California on Sunday, but I will have my mind on Kentucky hopefully.”
Gary’s Uncle Warren Stute, who has since passed away, won the Del Mar Debutante Stakes with a filly by the name of Miss Houdini, the dam of Papa Clem. Gary will send out Papa Clem under Rafael Bejarano in the highlight of the Oaklawn meet, the Arkansas Derby.
Bring on the Final Day
The countdown begins today; 24 hours from now the grand supreme of Oaklawn’s live race meet will hit the grand stage with the 73rd running of the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby. A field of 10 three-year-olds will line up at the starting gate with hopes lying on their backs that they will make history at Oaklawn Park.
A case can be made for every horse in the mile and one-eighth showcase. Old Fashioned (pictured) will be the horse that everybody will have their eyes on, as the Larry Jones trainee looks to regain his winning form. In his last outing the son of Unbridled’s Song ran second after sitting off the quick pace. Old Fashioned will gain leading rider Terry Thompson, who will look to add his second Arkansas Derby to his resume after winning it in 2003 with Sir Cherokee.
Win Willy attempts to win on Saturday after his triumph over Old Fashioned in the Rebel Stakes on March 14th. The son of Monarchos will look for some swift fractions on the front end with his confirmed deep closing style. Conditioner Mac Robertson will hope for the biggest score of his career with a win in the Arkansas Derby, as will veteran jockey Cliff Berry.
On the far outside sits Danger to Society, who assistant trainer Michelle Nevin said really poses no danger to humans, but his competitors beware. Danger to Society will once again try stakes company after he ran a poor race in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Danger to Society will be making his first start for trainer Rick Dutrow, who last year took two-thirds of the Triple Crown with Big Brown. Cornelio Velazquez will be in from his New York base to ride.
Flat Out was most notorious in his last start for breaking poorly and spotting the field ten lengths in the Southwest Stakes. He closed nicely to gain a fourth place finish, but questions surround the Charles “Scooter” Dickey trained horse. The son of Flatter missed some training time due to some feet issues and hopefully the sluggish start from the gate in the Southwest won’t be a problem in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday. Julio Garcia will have the mount for Saturday’s feature.
The rest of the field listed with trainer and jockey: Captain Cherokee, Steve Asmussen, Aaron Gryder; Papa Clem, Gary Stute, Rafael Bejarano; Poltergeist, Donnie K. Von Hemel, Quincy Hamilton; Ziegfled, Dale Romans, Jon Court; Flying Private, D. Wayne Lukas, Israel Ocampo; Summer Bird, Tim Ice, Chris Rosier.
Post time for the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby will be 5:54 p.m. CDT. and will be televised on ESPN.
A Little Bit More
Flat Out (pictured) blew out three-eighths in preparation for his start on Saturday. The Charles “Scooter” Dickey trainee worked in :39 flat, the fastest time of the morning at the distance.
Trainer Mac Robertson discussed his Arkansas Derby starter Win Willy’s :48.0 half mile breeze on Wednesday. “He galloped out fast and strong,” mentioned Mac. “When I breezed him a half before the Rebel he galloped out fast. After a horse wins, I don’t want to change a thing. So Wednesday, I wanted Win Willy to do the same thing he did coming up to the Rebel.”
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