HOT SPRINGS, AR (Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021) – R.A. Hill Stable and Flying P Stable’s Lone Rock, one of the most consistent runners in 2021, improved his record to seven wins from nine starts this year with his victory in the $200,000 Tinsel Stakes. It was his fifth stakes win this year for trainer Robertino Diodoro.
Lone Rock, the 9-5 favorite, settled off the pace in fourth as Huge Bigly led the field through early fractions of :23 1/5 and :47 4/5 for the first half mile. The winner’s stablemate, Thomas Shelby, took control at the top of the lane before stubbornly giving way to Lone Rock, who shook free of traffic and came up the rail to win by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:49 3/5 for 1 1/8 miles over a muddy track.
Beau Luminarie was third, followed by Warrior’s Charge, Tenfold, Title Ready and Huge Bigly.
Lone Rock, a Majestic Warrior gelding, improved his career record to 14-4-2 in 37 starts and has now earned $1,144,921. He returned $5.60, $3.60 and $2.80.
Live racing resumes Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. first post. It is the last day of live racing before Oaklawn takes a break over the Christmas holiday. Racing returns Friday, Dec. 31.
Stakes Quotes:
Winning trainer Robertino Diodoro, Lone Rock: “Awesome. Great ride by Ramon. He was in traffic trouble a good part of the race. He’s a big horse that was stuck down inside, which was a little concerning. But, Ramon did a great job of getting him out of that and hats off to both horses. Our other horse, Thomas Shelby, ran huge as well. He dug in, especially for not making the lead. He ran a hell of a race.”
Winning jockey Ramon Vazquez, Lone Rock: “He’s a great horse. I knew he was feeling good in his training, but he did scare me a little because he hadn’t run 1 1/8 miles in a long time. I knew I had a lot of horse. I was waiting for the perfect spot and the perfect moment to move my horse. When I found the hole, he took off.”
Jockey David Cohen, second with Thomas Shelby: “He ran a good race. Kind of expected the one horse (Huge Bigly) to go out there like he did. Typically put mine on the front end, but I think mine really dug in and showed that he belongs in this type of race.”
Trainer Rodolphe Brisset, third with Beau Luminarie: “He ran really good. I’m not sure he wants to go that far. Every time he run a mile and eighth or farther, he looks like a winner at the eighth pole and he has the tendency to hang a little bit. But he ran a good race.”
Coady Photography
Oaklawn Park Press Release
