Not many Arkansas-bred horses boast the bloodlines of Georgia's Reward, winner Saturday of the 40th Rainbow Miss Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
The gray or roan filly, sired by Warrior's Reward, is a grandson of Medaglia d'Oro, winner of a 2002 Oaklawn maiden race for trainer David Vance and the 2003 Oaklawn Handicap for Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel. Georgia's Reward's blood runs blue on her dam's side through $300,000 sire Tapit, whose sons have won the last three runnings of the Belmont Stakes.
Foaled on Smarty Jones' 14th birthday (Feb. 28, 2015), Georgia's Reward earned another distinction before a racing career that she has won twice from four starts and bankrolled $115,735. However uncommon it is for an Arkansas-bred horse to go through a Keeneland yearling sale, Georgia's Reward brought $29,000 in the November 2015 auction in Lexington, Ky.
The filly has recouped her sale price in three Oaklawn races, collecting $60,000 for Van Buren owners Rita and Everett Young in the Rainbow Miss.
Sitting off a hot pace, Georgia's Reward wore down pacesetter Firewater Rocket in midstretch and held off fellow stalker Dutch Treat by 1 3/4 lengths. Paying $3.80 to win under co-high weight of 122 pounds, Georgia's Reward clocked a fast-rated six furlongs in 1:11.98.
"You know, she put in a very good effort today," said winning jockey David Cohen. "She definitely had to work hard for it but she showed a lot of heart today."
Georgia's Reward scored bookend victories at the meet for trainer Ron Moquett, gaining her maiden victory by 4 3/4 lengths Jan. 15 in 1:10.96 and placing third in an entry-level allowance March 15. Moquett "went easy on her, like he does with the rest of his young horses, giving them time to develop," said Moquett aide and former jockey Greta Kuntzweiler.
Dutch Treat gamely took second, switching distances (route to sprint) after a March 11 Oaklawn victory around two turns. She placed fourth in Georgia's Reward's maiden victory, then finished a neck second to subsequent repeat winner Eskimo Kisses, runner-up in the March 24 Fair Grounds Oaks for trainer Ken McPeek.
Georgia's Reward and Dutch Treat benefited from the fast pace set by the Kellyn Gorder-trained Oaklawn winner Firewater Rocket, who went the half in 45.52 seconds and led by a length and a half at the head of the stretch.
"The trainer (Bill VanMeter) and I were talking about going with the speed and I made a good move," said Dutch Treat jockey Ramon Vazquez. "I had a good trip. I wouldn't have done it differently."
Leaders: With nine days left in the season, trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. have clear leads in Oaklawn divisions they won last year.
Asmussen, seeking his eighth Oaklawn title and third consecutive, leads 36-27 over Robertino Diodoro after three wins Saturday. Santana, with four straight Oaklawn titles, had a five-bagger on the final March card, boosting his advantage to 54-34 over David Cabrera and David Cohen.
On Saturday, Santana won aboard Bayerd ($5), Pure Shot ($4.40) and first-time starter Dixie Fever ($6) for Asmussen. The jockey also rode winners for trainer John Cox (Mucho Macho Dan, $7.40) and Karl Broberg (Alina's Image, $6.60).
Oaklawn is closed today in observance of Easter Sunday. Live racing resumes Wednesday.
Sports on 04/01/2018