Innova, I Got Game To Square Off In Ozark On Oaklawn's Presidents Day Card
An evenly matched field of nine is entered in the six-furlong $150,000 Ozark Stakes for 3-year-olds Monday at Oaklawn.
The Ozark highlights a 10-race Presidents Day program, with racing scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. (CT). Probable post time for the Ozark, the ninth race, is 4:51 p.m.
The 9-5 program favorite is Innova, who exits a front-running 1¼-length off-the turf first-level allowance victory at 5½ furlongs Jan. 12 at Fair Grounds for trainer Michael Stidham.
I Got Game, the early 5-2 second choice, finished second behind Innova last month for trainer Tom Amoss. In his previous start, I Got Game broke his maiden Dec. 21 at Oaklawn in a six-furlong maiden allowance race.
The Ozark brings back Piquant, Wildncrazynight, and El Dandi, third, fourth and sixth, respectively, in the Renaissance Stakes at six furlongs Jan. 18 at Oaklawn.
Wildncrazynight, a New Jersey-bred son of champion Midnight Lute, appeared headed to victory before having to alter course near the sixteenths pole after being squeezed by Kale’s Angel and Perfect Magic, the eventual 1-2 finishers, respectively.
Wildncrazynight, fifth early, was beaten a half-length in the Renaissance, his stakes debut.
“I really liked the way he ran last time,” said trainer Dan Ward, who is seeking his first career Oaklawn stakes victory. “That’s what we were looking for. If you look at his form, when he’s off the pace, he runs better. Hope he stretches out and everything, but I think he’s going to run good. And he’s had the exact same amount of time in between his best race, which was his second race.”
Wildncrazynight, in his second start, earned a career-high 78 Beyer Speed Figure when he was beaten a head in a state-bred maiden special weight sprint Aug. 25 at Monmouth Park. He broke his maiden in his next start, Oct. 2 at Delaware Park.
Hola Joey makes his stakes debut after winning his first two starts at the Oaklawn meeting for trainer Gene Jacquot. Both races were six furlongs. Hola Joey was a 4¼-length maiden-auction winner Dec. 7 and returned to clear his first allowance condition by a neck Feb. 1.
“We missed a little training,” Jacquot said, referring to winter weather following the colt’s Dec. 7 start. “I felt like I might have been a work short. But he ran good, cooled out good, jumped into his feed tub that night and the next morning he was looking for more.”
Hola Joey is the 5-1 third choice on the morning line. Wildncrazynight is 6-1.
Waco, who drew the rail in his stakes debut, is seeking his third consecutive victory at the Oaklawn meeting for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
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