HOT SPRINGS, AR – In addition to chasing career milestones, trainers Randy Morse and Ron Moquett of Hot Springs are chasing rainbows this weekend at Oaklawn.
Both Morse and Moquett have horses entered in the $150,000 Rainbow Stakes and $150,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes, 6-furlong events that showcase Arkansas-bred 3-year-olds.
The Rainbow and Rainbow Miss for fillies anchor a 10-race card that begins at 1 p.m. (Central). The infield will be open, weather permitting. Probable post time for the Rainbow Miss, which goes as the seventh race, is 4:04 p.m. The Rainbow goes as the ninth race, with probable post time 5:10 p.m.
Morse and Moquett entered Friday with 298 and 296 career victories at Oaklawn, respectively. Each has the 5-2 program race favorite – One Ten Stadium (Rainbow) for Moquett and One Way Or Another (Rainbow Miss) for Morse.
One Ten Stadium, named for the address of the University of Arkansas’ Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house, has won 2 of 3 starts at the meeting, including an entry-level allowance sprint against state-breds March 18 in his last outing.
“He’s a good boy,” Moquett said. “It’s a very contentious race. “Randy’s horse (Where’s Randy) is a good horse. There’s a couple of other ones in there that are pretty nice. I think whoever gets the best trip wins the race.”
Moquett also entered Kinfolk, who finished fifth, beaten five lengths by One Ten Stadium, March 18. A late-running gelding, Kinfolk broke his maiden against state-breds Feb. 13 to give Moquett his 900th career Thoroughbred victory, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization.
“Kinfolk, hey, he’s got a puncher’s chance, I’m serious,” Moquett said. “He’s going to come flying. For whatever reason, he loves to be on the outside, so I’m excited about his opportunity. I think he’s going to come running.”
The projected eight-horse Rainbow field from the rail out: Bettys Cash, Luis Quinonez to ride, 115 pounds, 5-1 on the morning line; Peace Dog, Alex Canchari, 119, 6-1; Ev’s Sherman, Travis Wales, 115, 8-1; Citrus Bay, Francisco Arrieta, 119, 20-1; Where’s Randy, Jon Court, 122, 3-1; Whelen Springs, Gabriel Saez, 122, 7-2; One Ten Stadium, David Cabrera, 122, 5-2; and Kinfolk, Freddy Manrrique, 119, 10-1.
Where’s Randy, named after Morse and co-owner Randy Patterson, exits a fourth behind One Ten Stadium March 18. Where’s Randy, in his career debut, finished a troubled second behind One Ten Stadium Dec. 11.
“Looks like a pretty evenly matched field,” said Morse, who also bred Where’s Randy in partnership with Patterson. “Tough race. He’ll have to run better than he did the other day to get anything done.”
Whelen Springs, in his career debut, finished third behind One Ten Stadium and Where’s Randy Dec. 11 before breaking his maiden against state-breds March 26 in his last start. The Street Sense colt races for his breeder, John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs, the winningest owner in Oaklawn history.
“Whelen Springs is a horse we’ve thought highly of and has hit his best stride coming out of his last race,” trainer John Ortiz said. “He’s ready for a quick turnaround in the Rainbow.”
Bettys Cash, a two-race maiden for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel, finished a head behind Whelen Springs March 26. Peace Dog finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length, by One Ten Stadium March 18 for owner/trainer Ernie Witt II.
In the Rainbow Miss, One Way Or Another was a front-running debut winner against state-breds Feb. 11 for Morse before finishing third against males (One Ten Stadium and Peace Dog) March 18.
“She looks good on paper in there,” Morse said. “But again, she’s got to get it done.”
Punchy Girl cuts back to a sprint after a front-running maiden victory against state-breds at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25 for trainer Jason Barkley and owner Sara Patterson, who is Randy Patterson’s daughter.
“Fitness-wise, I think it gives us an edge,” Barkley said. “She’s quick enough to put herself in the race. She’ll be involved. I always thought she would be good long and they had the race, so we went ahead and ran.”
Pattern Bet seeks her first career victory after three runner-up finishes against state-breds at the meet for Moquett and breeder/owner Harry Rosenblum of Little Rock, Ark., Pattern Bet is by Gentlemen’s Bet, who won the $100,000 Hot Springs Stakes for older sprinters in 2015 at Oaklawn for Moquett and Rosenblum.
“She’s not running against any 4-year-olds,” Moquett said. “When she got beat by a 3-year-old (One Way or Another), that 3-year-old was lone speed. Handicapping, we think that nobody’s going to be lone speed in the race and we think it sets up for her running style, should we get a good trip.”
Gramercy Park exits a fifth-place finish against older state-breds at 1 1/16 miles March 13 for Ortiz and Anthony.
The projected eight-horse Rainbow Miss field from the rail out: Pattern Bet, Cabrera, 115, 9-2 on the morning line; Gramercy Park, Saez, 119, 9-2; One Way Or Another, Jon Court, 122; 5-2; Truly a Rocket, Canchari, 122, 6-1; Punchy Girl, Elvin Gonzalez, 122, 7-2; Gold Strategy, Wales, 115, 8-1; Derby Day Lassie, Quinonez, 122, 8-1; and Dancin N Thepulpit, Kelsi Harr, 115, 10-1.
Oaklawn Press Release
Photo: One Ten Stadium (Coady Photo)
