Trainer Brad Cox said this week unbeaten 3-year-old Exclamation Point is likely headed for stakes company following his 1 ¼-length allowance/optional claiming victory on April 12 at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky.
A half-brother to champion and 2017 Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire, Exclamation Point won his first two career starts at Oaklawn Park, a Feb. 3 maiden special weights sprint and a March 3 first-level allowance/optional claimer in his two-turn debut.
"That was by far his best race, I thought, personally," said Cox, who finished fourth in Oaklawn's trainer standings this year. "I just thought his second race, he just raced so green. I just thought we really don't need to be tackling stakes horses right now."
Exclamation Point had been considered for Saturday's $150,000 Northern Spur Stakes for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn before Cox decided to ship the Concord Point colt to Keeneland for the about 7-furlong race. Stablemate High North took the lead off the turn and outdueled Ike down the stretch to win the Northern Spur.
Cox said the April 12 race initially did not go and he had no intention of running the previous weekend, but "it kept coming back on the overnight."
"I'd say we kind of called an audible at the line of scrimmage would be the best way to describe it," Cox said. "I thought it would be a good opportunity to get another race in him and continue the educational process."
Cox said Exclamation Point was much better behaved in his third career start. He had trouble running straight in the stretch at Oaklawn, and, in his career debut, was all over the lead pony before entering the gate and swapped leads late in the race. Exclamation Point had been based at Oaklawn since late last year.
"He handled everything really well," Cox said. "He's definitely maturing mentally and physically. I thought when we got him up there that he had filled out a little bit."
Cox said the Grade 3 $300,000 Pat Day Mile on May 5 at Churchill Downs "is probably a little quick," but the colt could target the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard May 19 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
Exclamation Point races for his breeders, Steve and Brandi Nicholson, and Staton Flurry, of Hot Springs, who purchased a half-interest in the colt following his career debut.
Exclamation Point has earned $139,200 for his three victories this year. He was ridden at Oaklawn by Fernando De La Cruz and by Luis Saez at Keeneland.
Saez is the regular rider of unbeaten 3-year-old Magnum Moon, winner of Oaklawn's Grade 2 $900,000 Rebel Stakes on March 17 and the Grade 1 $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday.
Oaklawn-raced Ministry, Jenda's Agenda, Tapa Tapa Tapa and Someday Soon are entered in the Grade 3 $100,000 Doubledogdare Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles today at Keeneland. Probable post time is 4:30 p.m.
Sports on 04/20/2018