Grandstand Expansion Begins on Heels of Successful Live Meet

An expansion project with a core cost of $20 million began this week at Oaklawn.  The grandstand expansion (artist rendering shown here), which is taking place on the south end of the existing grandstand, will provide Oaklawn more room for live racing, simulcasting and gaming, both Instant Racing and electronic games of skill.  To watch the progress of construction on the Oaklawn website, go to the Webcam link on the homepage,  http://www.oaklawn.com/Webcam.aspx

Oaklawn currently has approximately 500 electronic gaming terminals.  When this project is complete, that number will increase to about 900. The building project, which could take up to 18 months, will also allow Oaklawn to expand in such a fashion that higher purses for live racing should be firmly ensured for some time to come.  Since Oaklawn introduced electronic wagering into the menu at the track there has been over $13 million raised exclusively for purses.  Oaklawn fans have seen, in the aftermath, such great stars as Curlin, Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Lawyer Ron, Round Pond, Happy Ticket, Azeri, Borrego and countless other graded stakes performers in action during the annual spring meet.

All of the hustle and bustle of construction activity has come immediately on the heels of another outstanding live season that achieved success in spite of one of the wettest and, to the state of Arkansas, most destructive winter and spring seasons on record.  "The success story of our '08 season," noted track General Manager Eric Jackson, "Is what we've been able to accomplish with the racetrack surface, given the weather in Arkansas this year.  It's remarkable that Oaklawn didn't get severely hurt considering the economy, gas prices and other factors.  We have to be really pleased about our season and now we look forward to watching our Oaklawn runners compete against those from other regions of the country.  We have some great challenges with our building program, but Oaklawn has a great team of dedicated people who are showing the way."

Total wagering on Oaklawn races during the 2008 season increased 1% from the 2007 season, $181,219,479 compared to $175,653,719, for a daily average of $3,419,235.  Largely due to weather conditions, attendance dropped during the 2008 live season.  A total of 608,424 attended the 53 days of live racing this year compared to 618,284 in 2007.  The daily attendance average of 11,480 was a drop of 1.6% from the 2007 mark.  The 54-day 2009 live racing season will begin on January 16 and run until April 11, with the Racing Festival of the South expected to take place from April 4-11. 

Big Brown Wins Kentucky Derby; Catastrophe for Eight Belles

Before a crowd of 157,770 on a sunny, breezy Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs the favored Big Brown scored a win by nearly five lengths in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby.  Finishing second was three-time Oaklawn stakes-winning filly, Eight Belles.  But just a few jumps past the wire Eight Belles took a bad step, causing catastrophic injury.  She was euthanized on the track.  Southwest Stakes winner finished third in a Derby which will be the topic of plenty of conversation until the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 17.

"Our hearts go out to the family of Eight Belles, her owner, trainer, groom, hotwalker and all the others who wanted to let her etch a place in racing history," noted Oaklawn spokesman Terry Wallace.  "She was a brilliant filly and it took a great horse like Big Brown to defeat her.  Injury is part of the sport, but the way this happened, at the end of a day in which she heaped glory on herself, left all of us at Oaklawn in great pain."

The worry that Big Brown had to make the lead from the outside post position proved to be untrue. Jockey Kent Desormeaux had him in sixth and four-wide down the stretch for the first time, and was content to keep his mount in that position until it was time to move up after seven furlongs.  The early leaders, Bob Black Jack, Cowboy Cal and Recapturetheglory battled over the fast track through a half mile in :47, and six furlongs in 1:11.  After a mile in 1:36 2/5 Big Brown was send after the lead and Eight Belles followed him.  The two separated from the pack in the stretch, but Big Brown was able to widen in the last eighth of a mile, getting the mile-and-a-quarter in 2:01 4/5.  As the favorite Big Brown returned $6.80 and combined for an exacta on the 20-5 combination that was worth $141.60.

Gayego Scores Impressive Win in Arkansas Derby

Enjoying a perfect trip under the red-hot Mike Smith, Cubanacan Stables' Gayego punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby with a hard-earned three-quarters of a length victory over Z Fortune Saturday in the 72nd running of the $1 million Arkansas Derby before a banner crowd of 56,326 at Oaklawn Park.

The California-based Smith capped a sweep of Oaklawn's three biggest races with his ride on Gayego. Last Saturday, Smith swept the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap and $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap on Zenyetta and Tiago, respectively.  The $600,000 first prize moved Gayego into the first flight in the Kentucky Derby money standings, and the $200,000 second money put Z Fortune into the Derby field.

Gayego, who was making his first dirt start after four good performances on synthetic surfaces in California, became the fifth straight winning favorite in the Arkansas Derby, a Grade 2 for three-year-olds at nine furlongs.  The previous four -- all champions -- were Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Lawyer Ron and Curlin, the reigning Horse of the Year.

Gayego's victory also capped a remarkable stakes run by California-based horses this year at Oaklawn. Previously, Hystericalady won the Azeri, Sierra Sunset the Rebel, and, of course, Zenyetta the Apple Blossom, and Tiago the Oaklawn Handicap.

The original field of 14 for the Arkansas Derby was reduced by one with the program scratch of California shipper Victory Pete.  But the other three California invaders filled three-fourths of the superfecta. Tres Borrachas and Indian Sun, both outsiders, finished third and fourth to Gayego.

Tres Borrachos, ridden by Tyler Baze, broke on top from the one-hole, with Gayego finding a garden spot, just off his flank. Those two continued in that order through
six furlongs in 1:11.

Leaving the quarter-pole, a confident Smith moved Gayego up outside Tress Borrachos, and the favorite took command turning into the stretch. Z Fortune, who had a wide trip under Robby Albarado, who won last year's Arkansas Derby on Curlin, made a run at Gayego in mid-stretch, but Gayego, under a steady left-handed stick from Smith, was able to maintain his advantage to the wire.

"My horse showed he could handle the dirt," Smith said, "and he also showed me that he will have no problem getting the mile and a quarter in Louisville."

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Sebastian County Scores in Northern Spur

Sebastian County, owned and bred by country singer Toby Keith's Dream Walkin Farms, and trained by veteran Don Von Hemel, won the 11th running of the $75,000 Northern Spur Stakes by a head over Poni Colada Saturday on the Arkansas Derby undercard at Oaklawn Park.

Sebastian County, under Larry Sterling Jr., raced in the second flight down the backstretch.Ferragamo, the 6-5 favorite, got away slowly, then rushed up to engage Comic Romeo in a speed duel through fractions of :22 4/5 and :46.  Sebastian County, who had been a handful in the infield saddling enclosure, settled comfortable alongside Ide Like a Double in the second flight.

Turning for home, Sebastian County, a chestnut son of Hennessy, surged to the lead with a four-wide move, and gamely held off a strong late run by Poni Colada, ridden by Robby Albarado.  The victory was the third in six starts for Sebastian County, who was clocked in 1:37 4/5 over the fast strip.  Ide Like a Double finished three-and-three-quarters lengths back in third.

The Northern Spur was named for Oaklawn president Charles J. Cella's grass champion
from the mid '90s.

Euphony Stays Undefeated in Instant Racing

Euphony is described in the dictionary as "a harmonious succession of words having a pleasing sound".  On Saturday afternoon that success of words was "in front, and still unbeaten, winning her first career stakes."

In the race immediately preceding the Arkansas Derby, Euphony, a Forest Wildcat filly owned and bred by Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stable, and trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel, remained unbeaten in three starts when she won the $75,000 Instant Racing Stakes by a half-length before a crowd of 56,326 at Oaklawn Park.

The victory by Euphony capped a sweep of the undercard stakes by the Von Hemel family. Sebastian County, trained by Don Von Hemel, Donnie K's father, earlier won the $75,000 Northern Spur.

With veteran Cliff Berry aboard, Euphony tracked the pace-setting Spirit Line to the second turn, easily blew by that one, then had more than enough to hold off a late bid by Rasierra.  Eagle's Song circled from last to third, four lengths behind the runner-up, in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies going a mile.  Sky Mom, the even-money favorite, finished fourth for the team of Steve Asmussen and Luis Quinonez, who combined for three wins earlier on the program.

Euphony, who had won two six-furlong races earlier in the meet, was clocked in 1:37 4/5 over the fast track, and paid $10.20 as the second choice. 

Prima Donna Goes to Palanka City

Chalk up a Racing Festival of the South winner for the Illinois Connection.

Palanka City, owned by William Stiritz, trained by Terry Gestes, and ridden by Chris Emigh -- all Illinois residents -- jumped to the lead leaving the gate, and was never seriously threatened as she raced to an effortless four-length victory in the $50,000 Prima Donna Stakes before a crowd of 20,957 Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.  The Prima Donna was revived this year following an 11-year absence from the Oaklawn stakes schedule.

A $60,000 Carson City filly, Palanka City, sent off as the 4-5 favorite in a field of six 3-year-old fillies, jumped right to the top from the two-hole, shook off an early challenge from Mizzcan'tbewrong, the 45-1 rank outsider, and drew off through the stretch under a hand ride.

My Sweet Valor, regarded as the weaker half of trainer Steve Asmussen's uncoupled entry, rallied for second, and My Heavenly Sign, from the barn of two-time Festival winner Larry Jones, ran evenly for third, 1 3/4 lengths behind the runnerup.

The victory was the fourth -- and first stakes score -- in nine starts for Palanka City, and the $30,000 first prize boosted her earnings to $113,000.  The chestnut put down solid fractions of :22 2/5, :46 1/5 and :58 2/5, and completed
the six furlongs in 1:10 2/5 over a fast strip.

Prom Shoes Dances to Fifth Season Win

Patricia Blass' Prom Shoes, with some serious help from uncoupled stablemate Spotsgone, rallied from 15 lengths back to win the $100,000 Fifth Season by a neck before a crowd of 20,957 Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

The victory on Prom Shoes capped a stakes double for Chris Emigh, who, a half-hour earlier, won the $50,000 Prima Donna on Palanka City.

Unlike the Prima Donna, which was a stroll in the park for Emigh, the Chicago-based rider had to go full out to get Prom Shoes up in the 20th running of the Fifth Season, a 1 1/16-mile test for four-year-olds and up.  Both stakes runners-up are trained by Steve Asmussen, who has clinched his second straight Oaklawn title.  But veteran trainer Jinks Fires had the last laugh in the Fifth Season.

The Fires-trained Spotsgone, the 5-2 second choice in the field of seven, went right after Jonesboro, the 4-5 favorite, from the bell, and those two raced as a team through a rapid :46 3/5 half-mile.

The leaders started to fade entering the stretch, and Prom Shoes, who had been racing a remote sixth, made a huge run along the inside, and then angled four-wide approaching the furlong grounds to collar Encaustic. Those two dueled through the final 100 yards before Prom Shoes asserted himself from the outside under a right-hand stickSumac finished third, three lengths behind the runner-up, while the favored Jonesboro checked in sixth.

The victory was the fourth in 18 starts for Prom Shoes, a four-year-old son of Include bred by the owner, and the $60,000 first prize raised his bankroll to $213,536.  Prom Shoes was clocked in 1:43 2/5 over the fast track.

Semaphore Man Takes Count Fleet Sprint Handicap

Double Bogey Stable's sprint star Semaphore Man scored the biggest victory of his career Thursday when he came from off the pace under regular rider Tim Doocy to win the $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap by 1 1/14 lengths before a crowd of 7,025 at Oaklawn Park.

Until Thursday, the most lucrative victories for Semaphore Man were back-to-back triumphs in the $50,000 King Cotton at Oaklawn, where he is now 7-2-2 from 11 starts.

Overall, Semaphore Man, a six-year-old gelded son of Formal Gold trained by Kelly Von Hemel, is now 7-5-5 from 21 starts, and has banked $397,110 for owner Darrell Rahe.

Semaphore Man does most of his winning on the front end, but in the Count Fleet, a six-furlong dash for four-year-olds and up, he sat a stalking third down the backstretch as outsiders Saalb and Piratesonthelake duked it out near the rail through a :44 4/5 half-mile.

Turning for home, Semaphore Man and old rival Junior College, under leading rider Eddie Razo, moved in tandem three and four-wide, and for a moment, it appeared that Junior College had the momentum.  But Semaphore Man dug in down the stretch, and gradually eased away from Junior College in the final 16th. Lovango made a strong late move on the rail under Luis Quinonez to finish third in the field of seven, a neck behind Junior College.

Although the 5-2 program favorite, Semaphore Man went off as the 9-5 second choice to
California shipper Vicarino, and paid $5.60. The 3-5 exacta returned $14.20, and the
3-5-7 trifecta came back $21.80 for $1.  Semaphore Man, who finished second to Bordonaro in the '07 Count Fleet,  was clocked in 1:09 3/5 over a sloppy strip.

Buy The Barrell Romps in Bayakoa

Enjoying a perfect trip under Gabriel Saez, Buy the Barrel, owned and bred by Thomas Hinkle and trained by Larry Jones, took command with a three-wide move turning for home, and drew off to a decisive 5 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes before a crowd of 5,664 Wednesday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Best Vow, the winner's uncoupled stablemate, finished second in the field of six fillies and mares, four and up, and Over Under, the 10-1 rank outsider, was third, two lengths behind the runnerup.

For Jones, in addition to saddling the one-two finishers, the Bayakoa capped a training double, and also was his second victory in as many days in Oaklawn's ongoing Racing Festival of the South. Last Sunday, he sent out the sensational Eight Belles to win the $250,000 Fantasy for three-year-old fillies.

Buy the Barrel also was the second straight Bayakoa winner for Jones. The Man in the Cowboy Hat won the '07 running with the since-retired Gasia.  The victory by on Buy the Barrel also capped a perfect two-for-two day for Saez, who had
spent the winter riding first call for Jones at Fair Grounds.

The first three finishers dominated the Bayakoa from start to finish.

Over Under, with Calvin Borel up, broke on top from the two-hole, with Best Vow, ridden by Terry Thompson, just off her flank, and Buy the Barrel finding a spot along the rail, about three lengths back.

Best Vow went up to challenge Over Under after a half-mile in :47 3/5, and they raced as a team for a quarter-mile. Approaching the quarter-pole, Buy the Barrel, under confident handling, ranged up alongside the top two, and breezed by them leaving the furlong grounds.

The victory was the sixth in 15 starts for Buy the Barrel, a four-year-old E Dubai filly bred by her owner, and the $60,000 payday spiked her earnings to $219,740.  Buy the Barrel covered the 1 1/16 miles over a muddy strip in 1:44 1/5.

Nice Inheritance, from the barn of two-time Bayakoa winner Steve Asmussen, finished last as the 2-1 favorite.

Eight Belles Captures Exciting Fantasy

Despite breaking in the air, and enduring some anxious moments along the way, Fox Hill Farms' Eight Belles stretched her winning streak to four with a three-quarters of a length victory over a stubborn Alina in the $250,000 Fantasy before a crowd of 11,651 Sunday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Pure Clan finished third in the Grade 2 for three-year-old fillies, one-half length behind Alina, and French Kiss was last, 11 lengths further back, in the four-horse field.

In victory, Eight Belles, a strapping gray daughter of Unbridled's Song, established herself as the best three-year-old filly in North America...just as Zenyetta proved to be the best older filly or mare with her blowout victory on Saturday in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap.

But, for the longest time, Eight Belles, trained by Larry Jones, and ridden by the New York-based Ramon Dominguez, appeared to be in trouble in the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy.  Sent off as the 1-2 favorite, Eight Belles jumped into the air at the start, and broke a clear last as the Steve Asmussen-trained Alina was hustled to the lead by Luis Quinonez from her outside post.

In the run down the backstretch, Alina maintained a daylight lead through slow fractions of :24 1/5 and :48, with Pure Clan. normally a deep closer, surprisingly in nearest pursuit.  Eight Belles, meanwhile, was racing about five lengths back, and appeared to have a problem getting by rank outsider French Kiss.

But, suddenly, Eight Belles kicked into gear approaching the three-eighths pole, and stormed up three-wide outside Alina and Pure Clan.

Turning for home, Pure Clan commenced to shorten stride, but Alina, racing along the fence, showed no sign of weakening. However, Eight Belles, under several left-handed whacks from Dominguez, gradually wore down Alina while bearing in, and surged by the leader in the final 100 yards for a hard-earned victory.

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