A horse named Ministry running at a track in the Bible Belt might attract a following for obvious reasons. Or at least get prayers in its behalf.
Linda Robbins owns a 4-year-old filly by that name and also stands its sire, Ordained, at her farm in western Garland County. Trained by Jaime Gonzalez, Ministry has won three in a row at Oaklawn Park and is the 9-5 program choice in today's $100,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders' Stakes, a 6-furlong race for Arkansas-bred females.
A March 2017 Oaklawn maiden winner, Ministry pranced home by 6 3/4 lengths in the $100,000 Rainbow Miss against Arkansas-bred 3-year-olds. She put on a show against older state-breds in her 4-year-old debut Jan. 21, winning by 2 3/4 lengths a sprint prep for the six-furlong Downthedustyroad.
"This is the one, we hope," Robbins said. "But you know how things can happen. Did you see how many were nominated? It's like every filly born in Arkansas."
Easter Indy, for instance, has won the Downthedustyroad the last two years for trainer Bill Martin, who races the mare in partnership with its Donaldson breeders, John and Libbie Thiel. Now 6, A.P. Million's daughter is 10-1 on the morning line after a fifth-place finish in the Jan. 21 prep and almost certain to encounter a wet surface, for which she has not shown a particular liking. Ridden by Walter De La Cruz in this race the last two years, Easter Indy keeps Terry Thompson aboard and breaks from the rail with 117 pounds.
Ministry, packing 123 pounds with Tommy Pompell aboard, is rematched against Jeri Bella, Avisionofchocolate and Fastanista, second- through fourth-place finishers in the Jan. 21 prep. Also entered are Aunt Gayle, Fetch's Mon, Miss Shelby, Ms. Fifty First St. and I Be Jeannie B.
Ministry represented the first stakes winner for Robbins, who operates the former Tiffany Farm (once owned by Dr. K.K. Jayaraman) and campaigns as Starfish Stables LLC.
Gonzalez, said Robbins, "pretty much lives with the horse. The rest of the stable kind of revolves around Ministry."
The Downthedustyroad (Race 7) is followed by the $125,000 Gazebo, a sprint stake for 3-year-olds. Mitole, a last-out winner by 10 lengths with a Beyer Speed figure of 96, is the 1-2 program favorite in a six-horse field. Trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by longtime clients Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Mitole went a fast-rated six furlongs (Gazebo) distance last time in 1:09.95, bettering the time posted by Wilbo (1:09.85) in the preceding $125,000 King Cotton for older sprinters.
Asmussen also entered Direct Dial, second in the $150,000 Trement last June at Belmont Park and runner-up, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in the $50,000 Groovy at Sam Houston Race Park in his 3-year-old debut. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount on Mitole, who gets a feathery 115 pounds off his maiden victory, and Gary Stevens has the call on Direct Dial (5-1, 119). Also entered are Drc Inclusive, Bourne in Nixa, Inge and Wild Caramelo.
Sports on 02/24/2018