Oaklawn Park 2005

Afleet Alex Ultra Impressive
By Amelia Baldree

Afleet Alex diminished any Derby doubts Saturday with an impressive run in the G2 Arkansas Derby, winning the 1 1/8 mile race by a record 8 lengths. Going off as the betting favorite for a crowd of 71,010 at Oaklawn Park, he won in 1:48 4/5. His previous start in the G3 Rebel Stakes a month ago was the worst of his career, where he finished dead last in a field of six. After a post-race vet inspection, he was found
to have a lung infection.

In the Rebel, Afleet Alex also had a rider change in John Velazquez, despite the fact he had been ridden by Jeremy Rose in every other lifetime start. Rose was back aboard for the victory today. At the top of the stretch, Afleet Alex hooked up briefly G2 Lane's End Stakes winner Flower Alley, who was tiring and finished second. Nick Zito's Andromeda's Hero came in third with Rush Bay ran fourth and Greater Good, winner of Oaklawn's Southwest and Rebel, finishing fifth. This is Afleet Alex's sixth win in nine lifetime starts, his earnings are now $1,315,800.

Afleet Alex © Amelia Baldree 2005

Chindi © Emily Hufford 2005

Greater Good's Final Work
By Amelia Baldree

Greater Good, winner of the Southwest and Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, posted his final work this Saturday leading up to his start in the G1 Arkansas Derby. He worked in company with stablemate Copy My Notes in a bullet 1:12.60. Regular rider John McKee rode him in the work. He galloped out 7 furlongs in 1:27.17. The bay son of Intidab has never lost around two turns. As a 2-year-old he won the route G2 Kentucky Jockey Club.

In other Derby workouts, Rockport Harbor, second to Greater Good in the Rebel Stakes, worked seven furlongs in 1:25 3/5 at Oaklawn Park Sunday. The gray colt is now being pointed to the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland; he was originally going to run in the Arkansas Derby. He is still planning for a start in the May 7 Kentucky Derby. Plans are for "Rocky" to ship to Keeneland next Sunday or Monday.

Back at Oaklawn Park, the 11-year-old Chindi became a millionaire when he finished third in Friday's 10th race, an allowance optional claiming. The third place finish earned him $3,600 to push his bankroll to $1,000,838. Trainer Steve Hobby said he will continue to race as long as he is competitive at an allowance level. This was the 80th start of his career.

Greater Good Defeats Rockport Harbor © Amelia Baldree 2005

Getting the Goods
By Tasha Langley and Emily Hufford

In what was billed as one of the top races of 2005, the least regarded of the "Big Three," Greater Good, put himself firmly on the Kentucky Derby trail by defeating the gallant Rockport Harbor and highly regarded Afleet Alex in Saturday's Rebel Stakes (Gr. II) at Oaklawn Park. Greater Good, a dark bay son of the sprinter Intidab, went to the lead uncharacteristically, then sat back as Rockport Harbor stumbled out of the starting gate and then rushed to the lead. Afleet Alex chased him, but eventually gave way as Rockport Harbor opened up a firm lead. He held onto that lead until the final sixteenth, where Greater Good ran him down to win by a half length.

Afleet Alex faded to last, but it was later discovered that he had a lung infection. The time for the 1 1/16 mile race was 1:44 4/5 on a fast track. John McKee rode the winner for trainer Bob Holthus. Greater Good paid $11.20 to win. All three of the "Big Three" should be back for the April 16 Arkansas Derby (Gr.I) if all goes well.

Last year, Greater Good won the Kentucky Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Jockey Club before taking the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn earlier this year.

Reporting From Oaklawn Park
By Amelia Baldree

The Turf Angels were on hand this Friday morning at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to witness the "big three" Derby horses that are meeting in tomorrow's Rebel Stakes (gr. III). This morning Afleet Alex went out in the first set of horses when training opened at 6:30 A.M. Greater Good made an appearance midway before the break a little after 7:00 AM. Rockport Harbor went for his exercise before the break as well, coming onto the track ponied by trainer John Servis around 7:30 AM.

Rockport Harbor, also known as "Rocky" to his fans, jogged around the track once without incident, however, second time around he was faced with a loose horse. John Servis, still ponying his prize Derby contender, turned Rockport Harbor the other way "because you don't want to face a loose horse head on. He thought we were getting ready to do something and got a little cranked up." After training hours were over all three horses looked relaxed and ready to go for tomorrow's big race.

Greater Good Wins the Southwest
By Tasha Langley

The first Derby prep run at Oaklawn, the Southwest Stakes, was run this past Saturday. Originally scheduled to have the "Big Three" that are stabled at Oaklawn (Rockport Harbor, Afleet Alex and Greater Good), a lot of people were looking forward to this race. But only one of those, Greater Good, went forward, and he shattered the competition. The dark bay son of Intidab broke awkwardly and then made a late rally in the stretch, winning by three-quarters of a length. Greater Good and jockey John McKee came back splattered in mud after their courageous effort, which put them squarely on the Kentucky Derby trail. Greater Good, trained by Bob Holthus, now has a record of four wins out of six starts, and three stakes wins. He will now go on to the Rebel Stakes (gr.II), where he could meet up with Afleet Alex and Rockport Harbor. Fractions for the Southwest were :23 2/5, :47 1/5, 1:12 3/5, and a final time for the mile race was 1:39. He paid $3 to win and $10.40 to place.

Also this weekend at Oaklawn was the Pippin Stakes, which marked the return of Grade I winner Island Sand. However, she was upset by the Steve Hobby-trained Casual Attitude, ridden by Tim Doocy. Winning by a length and a half, Casual Attitude finished the mile and a sixteenth race in 1:45 2/5 on a fast track. She paid $7.20 to win.

Afleet Alex Works at Oaklawn Park
By Tasha Langley

Afleet Alex had his first official workout of 2005 on Wednesday at Oaklawn Park. One of Oaklawn's 2005 "Big Three" (Rockport Harbor, Afleet Alex and Greater Good), he flew four furlongs in :47 flat. Jeremy Rose was aboard. He got the job done in splits of :12 1/5, :24 3/5, and :35 4/5. Grade I winner Afleet Alex, a son of Northern Afleet, is scheduled to make his first start of the year on March 19 in the Rebel, against the undefeated Rockport Harbor and also Greater Good.