Bohemian Bo. (Coady Media)
By Robert Yates
Bo still knows the winner’s circle.
Making his first start since April, standout Arkansas-bred sprinter Bohemian Bo scored a front-running three-quarter length victory in Friday’s ninth race at Oaklawn, a $134,000 allowance, under Cristian Torres.
It was the fifth career victory for Bohemian Bo ($21.80), who races for his Texas breeder, Michael Mazoch, and trainer Tommy Vance of Hot Springs, and the 4-year-old colt’s second in open company. The winning time for six furlongs over a fast track was 1:10.94.
The speedy Bohemian Bo won two races last season at Oaklawn (both against Arkansas-breds), including the six-furlong $150,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes.
“Whenever he can get daylight between him and the next horse, he’ll relax just enough,” Vance said. “Even though he’s going fast, he’s relaxing. Little older and he’s grown up. He wasn’t 100 percent fit, to be honest with you. I missed about three breezes with him back in late October, early November. But I was ahead of schedule on him, so it didn’t hurt me too bad.”
After finishing seventh and eighth against open company in two allowance sprints last April at Oaklawn, Vance said he decided not to run Bohemian Bo at Churchill Downs and he was turned out at Hermitage Farm in Kentucky. Vance races extensively in Kentucky after the Oaklawn meet ends in May.
#1 Bohemian Bo returns to the winner's circle in R4 at Oaklawn Park under @julienleparoux for trainer Tom Vance! @joesantos_33
— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 6, 2024
#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/I46CF00ySh
“We just sent him home because he can’t compete with those horses at Churchill,” Vance said. “I tired the year before and it was just too much for him over there. The allowance races up there are like stakes half the time.”
Bohemian Bo returned to Vance’s barn in August and pointed to the 2024-2025 Oaklawn meeting that began Dec. 6.
Last December at Oaklawn, Bohemian Bo bolted to a clear lead early before being nailed in deep stretch to finish second in an open allowance sprint. He returned to dominate state-breds the following month in an allowance sprint.
But Friday’s victory, Vance said, takes a Jan. 5 allowance sprint against Arkansas-breds off the table because Bohemian Bo doesn’t meet the money-earned condition.
“He’s dead in the water now,” Vance said. “I don’t know where I’ll run him. I have no idea. All he’s got to run is three or four times here, if he makes his money. That’s why we sent him home last year. He made almost $200,000 (here) last year.”
Bohemian Bo, in 15 lifetime starts, has earned $417,436. The four-time Oaklawn winner collected a $3,000 bonus from the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Horsemen’s Association for beating open company Friday.
2024 @OaklawnRacing Nodouble winner Bohemian Bo, under @ChelcBailey, galloping out after a 5F work Sunday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Tommy Vance of Hot Springs. pic.twitter.com/IA4rbXCmfu
— Robert Yates (@RobertYates1982) November 24, 2024
Bohemian Bo is one of 15 horses Vance has at Oaklawn for Mazoch and his wife, Linda. Michael Mazoch stands Bohemian Bo’s sire, Gentlemen’s Bet, at McDowell Farm, about 60 miles south of Hot Springs.
Vance said Bohemian Bo’s dam, Sadie Be Mine, is in foal to champion Jackie’s Warrior and booked back to Gentlemen’s Bet. Jackie’s Warrior and Gentlemen’s Bet are Oaklawn stakes winners.
Vance is the son of four-time Oaklawn training champion David Vance, who retired in the summer of 2023.
Finish Lines … … ….. ……..
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and his son, jockey Keith Asmussen, teamed for two victories Saturday. They won the third race with favored Air It Out ($4.80) and the sixth race with Tiffany Twist ($8.60). The double pushed Steve Asmussen’s career Oaklawn victory total to 949. He is Oaklawn’s all-time winningest trainer. …
Jockey Francisco Arrieta registered his 992nd career North American victory aboard favored B Sudd ($4) in Saturday’s eighth race for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. …
Jockey Fernando Jara recorded his first career Oaklawn victory in Saturday’s second race aboard favored Capo Luca ($5.40). Lara, who is riding at Oaklawn for the first time, is best known as the regular rider of 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor and winning the 2006 Belmont Stakes aboard Jazil. Jara rode Capo Luca for nationally prominent trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who has a division of horses at Oaklawn for the first time this season. …
Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. recorded his 762nd career Oaklawn victory in Friday’s fourth race aboardQ’s Your Mama ($15.80) for trainer Melton Wilson. Santana is an eight-time Oaklawn riding champion. …
Entries were accepted and post positions drawn Sunday for the $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes Dec. 21 at Oaklawn. The Poinsettia is for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 5 1/2 furlongs.
