Randy Howg's Inside Straight took another step toward Oaklawn Park's biggest two-turn race for older horses with a 5-furlong workout a week ago for trainer Robertino Diodoro.
Diodoro said Inside Straight covered the distance in 1:01 in advance of the Grade 2 $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on Saturday. Clockers were not on duty. The Super Saver gelding won last year.
The April 8 work was the second local move for Inside Straight since he arrived in mid-March after being based this winter with Diodoro's division at Turf Paradise in Phoenix. Inside Straight worked a half-mile in :49.20 on March 24.
"He's doing awesome," Diodoro, Oaklawn's second-leading trainer this year, said Wednesday morning. "Like very, very, very, very happy with him."
Diodoro said his go-to rider at the meet, David Cohen, will have the mount in the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap. Cohen is Oaklawn's co-second-leading rider this year.
In his last start, Inside Straight was a 1 ½-length winner of a March 3 allowance race at Turf Paradise.
Other horses scheduled to run in the Oaklawn Handicap include Grade 1 winner and millionaire Accelerate, Hawaakom and Blueridge Traveler.
Accelerate won the Grade 1 $600,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 10 at Santa Anita Park in California for trainer John Sadler. Accelerate worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 Monday at Santa Anita.
Hawaakom worked 5 furlongs in 1:02 Thursday morning for co-owner/trainer Wes Hawley. Hawaakom won the Grade 3 $500,000 Razorback Handicap on Feb. 19 in his last start. The 1 1/16-mile Razorback is one of three major local preps for the Oaklawn Handicap.
Blueridge Traveler worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.80 Saturday morning for trainer Kenny McPeek. Blueridge Traveler finished third on March 17 in the $300,000 Essex Handicap, the final major local prep for the Oaklawn Handicap.
Post positions will be drawn Wednesday. The race closed Friday with 26 nominations.
Sports on 04/08/2018