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Oaklawn Park celebrated its 25th
anniversary of the Racing Festival of the South with large
crowds, competitive fields and lots of great weather.
Kicking off the eight-day festival on April 4th was the 42nd
running of the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. I). Throughout the
1990's the Oaklawn Handicap has been a popular place for
California horses, with winners such as Best Pal, The Wicked
North and Atticus to name a few. Therefore, it was no
surprise that the Ron McAnally trainee, Mud Route, went off
as the favorite in the seven horse field. Other contenders
who received a lot of support were local hero Phantom on
Tour and well-traveled, hard-knocking Frisk Me Now. Bobby
Barnett-trained Precocity received little attention from the
betting public. He had been racing well, however, and turned
in the best performance of his career to hold off Frisk Me
Now and Phantom on Tour, winning the 1-1/8 mile Handicap in
time 1:48.28.
The Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies was
held the next day where Bobby Barnett got the double for the
weekend when his filly, Silent Eskimo, lead the field from
gate to wire. Left in Silent Eskimo's wake in the 1-1/16
mile race were the talented fillies Misty Hour (Bill Mott
trainee), Clark Street and Occhi Verdi.
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Escena wins the Apple Blossom in near record time
for the former team of Cigar.
photo by L. A. Williams
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The 40th running of the
Apple Blossom (gr. I) contained a small field of
seven fillies and mares. However, four of them were
standouts: Toda Una Dama, Different, Glitterwoman
and Escena. The crowd had no difficulty in picking
the favorite, Toda Una Dama. She was regarded as
the best from the west and her form seemed to
indicate that she was on the top of her game.
Escena, Different and Glitterwoman went off as the
next choices.
When the field was sent underway, longshot B. A.
Valentine and Danzalert hooked up in a speed duel,
setting rapid fractions which eventually set up the
race for a stalker. That stalker was Escena, who
assumed the lead around the turn and romped home in
time 1:40 4/5, just 3/5 of a second off the stakes
record set by Heatherten in 1984 and Gorgeous in
1990. Glitterwoman finished 2-1/2 lengths behind
Escena with an impressive run. Toda Una Dama was
five lengths behind her and never appeared to run
her race throughout.
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Although Oaklawn Park has attracted
such outstanding horses as Alydar, Temperance Hill, Best
Pal, Sunny's Halo and even the great Cigar, this was the
first year that they would feature the reigning Horse of the
Year in a race. That horse just happened to be none other
than the undefeated champion, Favorite Trick.
A crowd of 57,231 racing enthusiasts came on a beautiful,
sunny day from near and far to see if Favorite Trick could
answer a few questions. Could he win this race and go into
the Derby undefeated--10 for 10? Could he run 1-1/8th miles
in a competitive field? Could Bill Mott keep another
"streak" alive with this 3-year-old son of Phone Trick?
Those questions would be answered in the Arkansas Derby (gr.
I).
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The morning of the Derby,
Bill Mott led Favorite Trick to the track for a one
mile gallop. Pat Day was not aboard Trick for the
gallop, however, he was on the observation platform
watching his Derby mount with the eyes of an eagle.
Many other trainers stood nearby watching the
undefeated champion while making idle chit-chat
with Day. No one mentioned the horse at all. They
simply watched with a keen interest. As Mott led
his Derby hopeful back toward the barn, he glanced
up at Day and the others. They all were watching
him, but no one broke the silence. The Horse of the
Year headed back to the barn as quietly as he
arrived--just another day for this little colt. Day
excused himself and received a smattering of
well-wishes from the group as he headed back to
Mott's barn.
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Back at the barn, Favorite Trick had been cooled out and
was receiving his morning bath with just Bill Mott, Pat Day
and Mott's assistants in attendance. The mood was much
lighter than it was just 30 minutes before. Day and Mott
watched the horse being bathed and reminisced about his
career. Then Bill Mott hooked an additional shank to
Favorite Trick's halter and stepped back from the nonmoving
horse and jokingly mocked, "Now, THIS horse requires at
least two people to hold him at all times... WHOA! big
fella', whoa!" Favorite Trick never moved a step, as usual.
He did appear to be a bit embarrassed as everyone
laughed.
Later, Favorite Trick dozed in his stall while his stable
mate Ajina was sent off as the heavy favorite to win the
Bayakoa Stakes. She finished last.
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photo by L. A. Williams
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The horses for stakes
races are not saddled in the indoor paddock, but
are saddled in the beautifully landscaped area near
the winner's circle instead. The procession is a
true crowd pleaser with the sun glistening off the
horses smooth coats amidst the blossoming trees and
green grass. To a trainer, it is a nerve-wracking
experience until you get the jockey on the horse.
Bill Mott, just a few days prior, had already
experienced the horror of seeing Acceptable rear
up, lose his balance and flip over backward,
crashing to the ground and then briefly finding
himself free from his handlers when he got on his
feet again. Mott seriously considered scratching
Acceptable from the race, but decided to give him a
chance. Acceptable won going away.
As the field of nine horses for the Arkansas Derby
were being saddled, a few of them began to act up.
Favorite Trick gave a very brief and
uncharacteristic argument when the saddle was
placed on his back, however, he was back to normal
in a matter of seconds. The field for the Arkansas
Derby (gr. I) took the track with all eyes on the
smallish bay colt. Other contenders included Post a
Note, who finished second to Event of the Year in
California; Victory Gallop, who won the Rebel
Stakes at Oaklawn three weeks prior; Quake, who ran
second to the undefeated colt Indian Charlie;
Hanuman Highway, who had been working like a
monster at Oaklawn; Fight for M' Lady; Hot Wells;
Robinwould and Battle Royale, a 130-1 shot.
The horses pass by the stands
for the first time.
photo by L. A. Williams
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The gates sprang open and to
everyone's surprise, Favorite Trick broke on top and on the
bit. He rushed up to fight for the lead with the now aptly
named Battle Royale. The two horses set unrealistically fast
fractions through the first three quarters of a mile. Both
horses raced head and head with neither of the two giving
in. The crowd was stunned. Favorite Trick had altered from
his normal racing style so dramatically that it was clear an
upset was in the making. Favorite Trick assumed the lead as
he reached the far turn and slowed the pace down to get a
breather. At the top of the lane, Pat Day asked the
weary-legged colt for more and Favorite Trick dug in as a
wall of horses began breathing down his neck. Victory Gallop
loomed on the outside and the European horse Hanuman Highway
skimmed the rail on the inside. The three battled to the
wire in tandem, with Victory Gallop getting to the wire
first, winning the race by the margin of a head. Hanuman
Highway finished a head in front of Favorite Trick.
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Victory Gallop (left) and Hanuman
Highway (right) out finish Favorite Trick (middle)
in the final strides.
photo by L. A. Williams
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Favorite Trick was
defeated, but this may have been his most
impressive race to date. People were not speaking
of how they knew he could never get the distance,
instead they were comparing the race to that of
Silver Charm's defeat in the Santa Anita Derby. The
horse had every reason to give up in the stretch,
he fought that last 1/16 of a mile on sheer
heart--something he had not had to do before.
Favorite Trick answered the questions for many
people. He deserved a shot at the Kentucky
Derby.
Bill Mott stood in the center of the track as
reporters, photographers and cameramen came at him
from all directions. To his credit, Mott was as
gracious in defeat as he is in victory. Everyone
questioned the colts sudden change of racing style.
Mott seemed baffled by Favorite Trick's anxiousness
to run out of the gate.
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"Perhaps he was thinking from
his last race that he was still running in a seven
furlong race. In that kind of race, you really
hustle them out of the gate."
"But, I'll have to talk to Pat
and review the films before I can say any more."
Mott replied.
The next morning Favorite Trick was loaded into a
van headed for Louisville and the Kentucky
Derby.
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Victory Gallop in the
winner's circle. Alex Solis is aboard.
photo by L. A. Williams
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At any other track, such a big race
would have been held at the end of the day or else people
would leave before the card was complete. At Oaklawn Park,
there is a different tradition and that tradition is one of
the best kept secrets in racing. We need to get the word out
to be there on the final day of racing at Oaklawn Park. The
final race, The Trail's End, is 1-3/4 mile allowance race on
the dirt. After the post parade, the horses, jockeys and
outriders face the stands while a brass band plays Auld Lang
Syne and the jockeys and crowd sing together. It is a
fitting farewell until next year for an incredible festival
of the horse.
Who won the 1-3/4 mile race you ask? Star Campaigner won
it gate to wire--he happens to be a grandson of Secretariat.
Now THAT is how you end a meet on a high note.
I can't wait for next year!
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