A horse with local ties and to the late Jack Van Berg looms a heavy favorite today at Oaklawn Park in a crown jewel of Arkansas racing.
Hot Springs native Jerry Caroom owns unbeaten Hoonani Road, who seeks his third career victory and of the meeting in the $100,000 Rainbow Stakes. Sired by Arkansas-owned millionaire Jonesboro, himself an Oaklawn stakes winner, Hoonani Road is the even-money program favorite against eight Arkansas-bred 3-year-old males at six furlongs.
As a thoroughbred owner, Caroom was instrumental in Van Berg's career resurgence after the Hall of Fame trainer relocated from Southern California to the Midwest before the 2014 Oaklawn meeting. Hoonani Road, said Caroom, was "one of the last horses that ... Van Berg selected with me" before his death in December. Caroom said he privately purchased the gelding from its breeder, Bobby Lee Hall, last May.
Hoonani Road, now with trainer Wayne Catalano, debuted Feb. 10, winning by 9 1/2 lengths for a $20,000 claiming tag. The gelding led wire to wire both in that race and a length-and-a-quarter victory March 16 in an entry-level allowance.
Hoonani Road made his career debut on the same card that Sigma Nu, Caroom's fraternity at the University of Arkansas, sponsored another race.
"He had a class reunion coming over that day and Pat Pope (racing secretary) hung up a late extra," said Catalano. "The rest is history. We didn't have him well trained, for us. We did get lucky and breezed him three times and one of them was out of the gate."
Channing Hill rides Hoonani Road, trained by father-in-law Catalano and named for a Hawaiian roadway where Caroom's Houston-based XtraLight did some lighting work.
"The horse always showed talent," said Caroom. "I simply entered him to have one running that day (Feb. 10) for my friends."
Three other Oaklawn winners entered the Rainbow, Zack Ridge Road beating $20,000 maiden claimers March 22 in his first start off a $12,500 claim by trainer Norman McKnight. David Cohen rides the Brahms-sired gelding, previously trained by Donnie Von Hemel.
Spanish Avenue's story mirrors that of Zack Ridge Road, downing $20,000 maiden claimers March 22 after claimed for that price in December at Remington Park in Oklahoma. David Cabrera rides the Portobello Road colt for owner Danny Caldwell and trainer Federico Villafranco.
Spotitude tipped his hand opening day at Oaklawn, Jan. 12, in winning a $75,000 race for Arkansas-bred maiden special weights. Although eighth in Hoonani Road's last race, the Spotsgone gelding ran in a Feb. 11 race that produced next-out stakes winner J.E.'s Handmedown and two-time meet winner K J's Nobility. Ramon Vazquez rides Spotitude for trainer Al Cates.
Completing the Rainbow field are Jinks Fires-trained newcomer Bebop Shoes, who last week fired a six-furlong "bullet" work of 1:13.60 from the gate, along with Suspicious Eyes, Hamazing Vision, East Moon Lake and Ray's Big Boy.
Listed as Race 8 on a nine-race card starting at 1:30 p.m., the Rainbow has a 4:42 p.m. scheduled post time. With six geldings and three colts entered, the eight previous starters have a combined 5-for-26 record with all sired by horses standing at Garland or Hot Spring County farms.
Sports on 03/30/2018