Kale’s Angel. (Mccarlee Perkins/Coady Media)
Oaklawn Release
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – No turf, no problem.
Making his debut on dirt, Kale’s Angel took command on the outside turning for home and powered to a 5 ¾-length victory in the $150,000 Advent Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters Friday afternoon at Oaklawn.
Ramon Vazquez rode Kale’s Angel ($9.20) for Southern California-based trainer Peter Miller, who has a division of horses this season at Oaklawn. Kale’s Angel made his first four career starts in Southern California, the last being an 11th-place finish in the $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at 1 mile Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Cutting back to sprint in the Advent, Kale’s Angel shadowed 1-2 favorite Innovator around the turn before striking the front near the quarter pole. Kale’s Angel widened his advantage through the stretch and completed the 5 ½ furlongs over a fast track in 1:04.40. The half-mile split was :46.49.
Innovator, a maiden being wheeled back in nine days by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, held second. Innovator was followed, in order, by Perfect Magic, Three Echoes, My Wife Is Right and Texas Creed.
Kale’s Angel, a son of Complexity, won for the second time to raise his career earnings to $139,750 for co-owner Tom Kagele. Miller and Kagele also campaigned millionaire C Z Rocket, a multiple Oaklawn stakes winner.
Racing resumes Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (Central) with 10 races, highlighted by the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes.
ADVENT QUOTES
Winning jockey Ramon Vazquez (Kale’s Angel): “Definitely, he took to the dirt. He’s pretty good on the dirt.”
Winning trainer Peter Miller (Kale’s Angel): “He really did (take to the dirt). He trained great on the dirt, so really exciting to see him run like he worked on it. Sometimes, they don’t. But he’s a good horse. I don’t know how far he’ll go, but he’ll get there fast.”
Second-place jockey Cristian Torres (Innovator): “Not disappointing. He ran good. He just ran nine days ago at Churchill and was a real hard-trying second. So, probably a little bit too quick back. But the horse, he was great. Obviously, he broke out there running and was relaxed. He was just caught today.”
