The spirit of the late Hargus Sexton lives on with a filly who might get the Kentucky horseman's family to Churchill Downs in early May.
Sexton, who died last June at age 96, is a co-breeder of Red Ruby, Oaklawn Park winner Saturday of the $122,500 Martha Washington Stakes in her 3-year-old debut. Sandra Sexton, his widow, also is a co-breeder and races the Tiznow filly in partnership with Brandi Nicholson, breeder with husband Steve of champion juvenile and 2017 Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire.
Red Ruby handled Oaklawn's two-turn mile with the same precision that she downed Churchill maidens by 3 1/2 lengths going longer last Thanksgiving Saturday. "She did that (at Churchill) pretty easy," said trainer Kellyn Gorder, who encouraged New Orleans-based jockey and two-time Oaklawn champion Robby Albarado to keep the mount Saturday.
"He had a couple of options. He could have gone to Tampa Bay (Downs, where the Sam F. Davis Stakes, a Kentucky Derby prep, was held Saturday)," Gorder said. The Kentucky-based trainer said he relaxed after "Robby got her out of trouble" on the first turn.
Red Ruby tracked last-out Oaklawn winner Sassy Sienna into the second turn before going by from outside. She drew off by 2 1/2 lengths, shown but not feeling her rider's whip, the mile in 1:39.67 over a surface rated sloppy and basically unforgiving to speed horses.
"I gallop her myself in the morning. She's special," said Gorder, giving Red Ruby four Oaklawn works since the filly turned 3.
A Kentucky Oaks filly?
"We hope so," he said, penciling in Oaklawn's Grade 3 $200,000 Honeybee at a mile and sixteenth March 10 as Red Ruby's next start. The 2017 Honeybee has produced 10 subsequent winners including Grade 1 victors It Tiz Well (the race winner for Jerry Hollendorfer) and Elate.
Red Ruby paid $7, $3.60 and $2.60, giving Albarado his first Martha Washington victory since 1999 with the Bob Holthus-trained The Happy Hopper. Sassy Sienna, a 9 1/2-length Oaklawn allowance winner Jan. 15 for Brad Cox, finished 4 1/4 lengths ahead of program favorite Cosmic Burst. Tyfosha, a Jan. 21 Oaklawn maiden winner for Doug O'Neill, and pacesetter Secret Passion completed the field, reduced to five with the scratch of Grats Road.
Cosmic Burst had won three in a row for Donnie Von Hemel, capping her 2-year-old season with a 5 1/4-length romp in Remington Park's $100,000 Trapeze Stakes Dec. 17. But in her 3-year-old debut, under high weight of 122 pounds, the Violence filly had too much to overcome, hopping at the start and racing wide into the first turn.
Asked if Cosmic Burst needed the race, Von Hemel said with a smile, "I hope not.
"She tried to get to the rail on the backstretch but had nowhere to run. I don't want to make excuses, but that's just racing. Maybe we can get some weight off in the next race."
Ruling
Titanium, a 6-year-old mare, defeated three rivals in the sixth race Saturday but was declared a non-starter after an incident at the starting gate. According to the Equibase race chart, "Titanium had her head turned in the gate and received an unfair start, trailed the field, rallied inside on the far turn and faltered." After a lengthy inquiry, track stewards declared Titanium a non-starter, prompting refunds on wagers including the mare.
Holiday's Angel ($39) won the race for trainer Allen Milligan with Channing Hill riding his second of three winners Saturday. Hill also scored in the second with newcomer Hoonani Road ($19.80) for father-in-law Wayne Catalano and the ninth with Blueridge Traveler ($7.60) for Ken McPeek.
Oaklawn newcomer David Cabrera also rode three winners, Dynabeaver ($14.80) in the first race for Tim Martin, La Key ($18.40) in the fifth for Shea Stuart and Abbaa ($6.80) in the seventh for John Ortiz.
Sports on 02/11/2018