Barn Notes 2/8/25
Compiled by Robert Yates
Speed King returned to the work tab Saturday morning at Oaklawn, his first serious move since winning the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Jan. 25.
Breezing over a fast surface just after the track opened for training, Speed King covered 5 furlongs in 1:04 under regular rider Rafael Bejarano. Clockers caught the gray son of Volatile in :38.60 for his opening three furlongs and galloping out six furlongs in 1:17 and seven furlongs in 1:30.60.
“Just a maintenance five-eighths,” trainer Ron Moquett said. “It was supposed to be nice and smooth. Just trying to let him stretch his legs a little bit. He’ll have a more serious work next week and then that’ll tell us whether we’re going to the Rebel or we’re going to do something different.”
Speed King, who is owned by Ted Bowman of Hot Springs, entered Saturday No. 2 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 25 points. Speed King collected 20 points for a wire-to-wire one-length victory over Sandman in the 1 1/16-miles Southwest, Oaklawn’s second of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races. The four-race series concludes with the $1.25 Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 22 and the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles March 29.
“We’re leaning towards the Rebel,” Moquett said. “But, obviously, our first priority is making sure we do right to try to win the Derby, if we can.”
Sandman is scheduled to have his first workout since the Southwest Sunday morning, said Caden Arthur, who oversees dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse’s Oaklawn division. Sandman is pointing for the Rebel, Casse said.
Nominations to the Rebel close Saturday. Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Feb. 16 for the Rebel and five other stakes, including the $500,000 Honeybee (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.
The Rebel will offer 105 total points (50-25-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishers toward Kentucky Derby starting eligibility. The Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 starters.
An Authentic Gallop
Trainer Tom Amoss said next-race plans are pending for Triple Crown nominee Authentic Gallop, who gutted out a narrow off-the-pace victory in Friday’s ninth race, a $130,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Authentic Gallop ($10.40) edged McDude by a head in a time of 1:44.85 over a fast track. The first four finishers were separated by only 1 ¾ lengths. Authentic Gallop removed blinkers for his return to Oaklawn. He was exiting a third-place finish in an entry-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 20 at Fair Grounds, beaten five lengths by Admiral Dennis after setting the pace.
“The thing about Authentic Gallop – he has not put it together yet and he doesn’t have a great understanding of competition,” said the Fair Grounds-based Amoss, who was in town to saddle the colt. “Today, we were fortunate in a couple of aspects. We had a target to run at in a speed horse (Landing Craft) and secondly, down the stretch, where really it was a four-horse race, he was made to show that he was competitive. I thought he stepped forward today. Although it wasn’t a wow race, at the same time I think it’s the kind of race we need for Authentic Gallop to have a better understanding of racing and I look for big things to come from him.”
The victory was the second in seven starts for Authentic Gallop, a $300,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase for Greg Tramontin (Greenwell Thoroughbreds).
Authentic Gallop broke his maiden at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 13, becoming the first Oaklawn winner for his sire, 2020 Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby champion Authentic.
“Blinkers came off today,” Amoss said. “We were going to give him a target to run at, something different than he did last time, which was go to the front and be out there. He looked like a lost dog. It worked. These are young horses and they can make big improvements. We’ve got big dreams for this horse, whether it’s this spring or next year. I don’t know yet. But there’s more to come from him.”
Authentic Gallop was the second consecutive winner on Friday’s card for Amoss, pushing his 2024-2025 meet total to seven. Amoss has a much greater presence this season at Oaklawn than previous years.
Amoss said he plans to start You’ll Be Back in Oaklawn’s $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Feb. 15 and I Got Game in the $150,000 Ozark Stakes Feb. 17. Both races are six-furlong events.
Finish Lines
Jose Ortiz will ride Quietside in the $500,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies Feb. 22, trainer Johnny Ortiz said Saturday morning. The 1 1/16-mile Honeybee is Oaklawn’s second of three Kentucky Oaks qualifying races. Quietside, in company, worked five furlongs in 1:01 over a fast track Saturday morning at Oaklawn. … Tyler Bacon, Oaklawn’s runaway leading apprentice jockey this season, will ride Innovator in the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds Feb. 22, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Saturday morning. The 1 1/16-miles Rebel is Oaklawn’s third of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races. Bacon, 17, rode two winners Friday at Oaklawn to move into solo second in the standings with 20 victories. … Oaklawn will be dark Sunday. Live racing resumes Friday at 12:30 p.m. CST.
