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Blame filly Hypersport breaks maiden at Oaklawn Dec. 3, 2021. (Coady Photography)
HOT SPRINGS, Ark.—Although the sample size is small, Hypersport holds the distinction of running the fastest 6 furlongs in Oaklawn history by a 2-year-old. Now, the daughter of champion and 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame will try to carry her speed around two turns for the first time in a 1-mile allowance race New Year’s Eve, trainer Ingrid Mason said Wednesday morning.
Hypersport was a front-running four-length maiden special weights winner opening day, Dec. 3, under regular rider Francisco Arrieta, covering 6 furlongs in a meet-best 1:09.66.
“We’re super excited about it,” Mason said. “For any filly to run an 88 Beyer is pretty impressive, no matter what, even if she can’t go long. I think she’s talented enough to stretch out, but if she can’t she’s still going to be a hell of a sprinter.”
Hypersport returned to the work tab Tuesday morning and breezed a half-mile in :49.20 over a fast surface. Mason said she was particularly pleased with the way the filly galloped out, adding, “All I saw was this little dot go around the racetrack.”
“She did it quite easily,” said Mason, who trains Hypersport for significant other Mike Waters. “She’s got a high cruising speed, so Arrieta was extremely happy with her yesterday.”
Waters (Muddy Waters Stables) purchased Hypersport for $100,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She ran second in her Oct. 21 career debut at Keeneland.
Oaklawn has run more than 1,000 races for 2-year-olds since its inaugural meeting in 1905, but only 35 have been at 6 furlongs because its traditional racing dates have been in January, February, March and April. Save 1945 – Oaklawn ran a fall meet because of World War II – most races were 3 furlongs or a half-mile before 2-year-old racing was eliminated in 1975. The fastest of 25 times at 6 furlongs in 1945 was 1:11 2/5, or 1:11.40 after being converted from fifths of a second.
Owing to a December opening, the earliest in its history, Oaklawn can card races for 2-year-olds, and at longer distances, in 2021. Hypersport’s time was slightly faster than Kavod (1:09.97) needed to beat other males in the inaugural $150,000 Advent Stakes a half-hour later opening day. The races were the first of the meeting for 2-year-olds at 6 furlongs.
The Dec. 31 allowance race could produce starters for the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Jan. 29. The 1 1/16-mile Martha Washington is Oaklawn’s first of three Kentucky Oaks points races.
Red Hot Mess, winner of the $50,000 White Clay Creek Stakes Oct. 13 at Delaware Park, is targeting the allowance race, trainer Chelsey Moysey said. Other candidates include Secret Oath, fifth in the $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, and Oct. 20 Remington Park maiden special weights graduate Cupid’s Music for breeder/owner/trainer Danele Durham.
Secret Oath worked a half-mile in :48 Wednesday morning. Cupid’s Music went a half-mile in :48.60 Dec. 10. Red Hot Mess had her first local breeze Dec. 8. She went a half-mile in :47.60.
Finish Lines
Nominations closed Friday for the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds Jan. 1. The 1-mile race is Oaklawn’s first of four Kentucky Derby points races, with 17 awarded to the top four finishers (10-4-2-1, respectively). … Trainer Brad Cox said Thursday afternoon that Home Brewand Vivar are targeting the Smarty Jones. Home Brew has won 2 of 3 career starts, including a first-level allowance in his two-turn debut Dec. 4 at Oaklawn for breeder/owners Gary and Mary West. Vivar (2 for 4) finished sixth in the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs in his last start for breeder/owner John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs. Cox and Anthony teamed to win the 2021 Smarty Jones with Caddo River. … Jockey Alex Cancharientered Friday with 198 career Oaklawn victories. … It’sallinthenotes ($57.60) represented the second career victory for trainer Corey Deatherage in last Sunday’s ninth race, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Deatherage started his first horse in 2018 and saddled his first winner the following year at Oaklawn.
Oaklawn Barn Notes by Robert Yates
