Consistent Streamline seeks Azeri repeat

The Sentinel-Record/File photo STREAMLINE SUCCESS: Jockey Chris Landeros guided Streamline (7) across the wire to win the 2017 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park a year ago. Streamline won the Grade 3 Bayakoa in February and is seeking a repeat today in the Grade 2 $350,000 Azeri Stakes for older fillies and mares.
The Sentinel-Record/File photo STREAMLINE SUCCESS: Jockey Chris Landeros guided Streamline (7) across the wire to win the 2017 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park a year ago. Streamline won the Grade 3 Bayakoa in February and is seeking a repeat today in the Grade 2 $350,000 Azeri Stakes for older fillies and mares.

Virtually unknown outside her native Illinois before coming to Arkansas in 2016, Streamline has become a leading lady at Oaklawn Park.

She's defending champion in the Azeri Stakes and can become a millionaire with a victory today in the Grade 2 $350,000 race. The Azeri is set for 5:32 p.m. and listed as Race 9 on Rebel Saturday at the track, followed by the Grade 2 $900,000 Rebel Stakes for 3-year-olds and preceded by the $300,000 Essex Handicap for older males. All three races are 1 1/16 miles and serve as preps for important April stakes races at the track.

Named for Oaklawn's only three-time Apple Blossom Handicap winner, the Azeri drew eight older fillies and mares, each with at least one stakes victory and seven winning in graded company.

"It's a good race," said Brian Williamson, who trains Streamline for owners including mother-in-law Nancy Vanier.

Streamline took a liking to Oaklawn in 2016, winning the Pippin Stakes opening weekend, then burst through in graded company in last year's Azeri. In what Williamson says might be her final season on the track, Streamline enhanced her status as a future broodmare with her last-out triumph in the Grade 3 Bayakoa.

Streamline has competed in Oaklawn's last 10 two-turn stakes for older fillies and mares, never finishing worse than third. The Bayakoa victory Feb. 17 pushed her career earnings to $793,166, her 20th top-three finish from 21 career starts. Hall of Famer Gary Stevens keeps the mount on Streamline, greatly encouraging Williamson.

"She's training great," Williamson said. "We're really, really looking forward to this."

Streamline, listed at 6-1, may offer more betting value than usual. Opponents include four-time Oaklawn stakes winner Terra Promessa, early-season Pippin winner Farrell and some talented horses making their first local start. Trainer Wayne Catalano has pointed 4-year-old Farrell to the Grade 1 $700,000 Apple Blossom April 13, saying the filly couldn't handle a sloppy track when last of six in the mile-and-sixteenth Bayakoa.

Tiger Moss, Actress, Martini Glass and Sandy's Surprise return in the Azeri after comprising the superfecta in that order in the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic Jan. 28. Martini Glass returned to win Gulfstream Park's Grade 3 $200,000 Royal Delta Stakes Feb. 19 for co-owner/trainer Keith Nations.

"I think she's on the upswing," Nations said. "Her numbers keep getting a little better. She loves to train. She probably wanted to run the next day after her race at Gulfstream. She's just that type of filly. She just loves the action."

Completing the Azeri field is Churchill Downs Grade 2 winner Blue Prize, idle since Thanksgiving.

* The Brad Cox-trained Oaklawn winner Dazzling Gem is the 3-1 program choice in the Essex, a stepping stone to the Grade 2 $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap March 14. Probable post time for the Essex, won last year by subsequent Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap winner Mor Spirit, is 4:55 p.m.

Sports on 03/17/2018

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