Key of Life wires the field in the Purple Martin (Coady Photography)
Oaklawn Park Press Release
HOT SPRINGS, Ark.— Flurry Racing Stables LLC and Hoffman Family Racing LLC’s Key of Life was the fastest out of the gate never looked back, drawing off to easily win Saturday’s $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes in front of a crowd of 32,500.
With jockey Isaac Castillo in the irons, Key of Life set fractions for :22 1/5 and 45 4/5 for the first half mile. The winner was able to catch her breath around the turn for home and once in the stretch, she drew away from her competition to win by 3 ¼ lengths over Socially Selective, who had tracked from second throughout. Klassy Bridgette, the 8-5 favorite, was third. The winning time for six furlongs over a fast track was 1:09 4/5.
Key of Life, Mo Town filly, improved her record to 4-0-3 from seven career starts and has now earned $391,475. She returned $7, $3.80 and $2.40 as the 5-2 third choice.
Live racing resumes Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. first post and the Infield will be open for the first time this year. Next Saturday is the 87th running of the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1). Gates will open at 12:30 p.m. and the card will also feature the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3), $400,000 Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3) and $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes.
Stakes Quotes:
Winning jockey Isaac Castillo: “She’s a nice filly. Thanks to (trainer) Brad Cox and all his team for giving me the opportunity. Thanks to the owners (Staton Flurry and Gregory Hoffman). I just played the break. This filly is so fast out of the gate. So, I was able to make the lead.”
Winning owner Staton Flurry: “She got pinned on the rail; the track last out was muddy. Everything was coming from off the pace that day (Feb. 11 Dixie Belle Stakes). It was the perfect storm of bad luck. She’s just a nice filly. I’m excited to see what the rest of the year holds. Hopefully, we can get a graded race or two with her and keep on rolling with the flow.”
