He may be 7 years old, but the best is yet to come Plainsman .
After finishing his 6-year-old campaign with a solid third place in the December 4 Cigar Handicap presented by NYRA Bets (G1), the son of Flatter took a nice step forward on his 2022 debut, posting an ancient win in a $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) bet on February 12 at Oaklawn Park.
“He’s training better than ever,” said coach Brad Cox. “I feel as though he’s going to be in his game.”
A winner of nine of his 28 career starts, Plainsman became a horse millionaire ($1,203,207 in earnings) thanks to Saturday’s win. And possibly more to come with races like the $500,000 March 19 Essex Handicap (G3) and the upcoming April 23 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in Oaklawn for Shortleaf Stable horses.
“(Plainsman) loves it here and it’s home to (owner) John Ed Anthony and he wants to support the show here,” Cox said. “He will definitely campaign here for the rest of the winter and spring and hopefully this is the start of a big year for him.”
Plainsman, who weighs 120 pounds, must have put in a lot of effort at the hands of Eclipse Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario when he dueled with Thomas Shelby and racer David Cohen. The two rivals competed against each other through divisions: 23.18 and: 47.78 before the 3rd place winner took a tight lead in the eighth column and held off determined Thomas Shelby.
“I didn’t give (Joel) many instructions. It was like, ‘Just break it.’ He seems to be still fresh and hasn’t been sick for two weeks, so I feel like he’s going to be ranked (from the start), “Cox, who received his second consecutive Eclipse Award two days ago there. “He’s a tough horse. I’ve always felt he’s the go-to horse when I get home and he’s in the right place. If he can take the lead at some point, he is a very tenacious and hard-working horse.I know that he is a tough horse to get through once he is in the lead, so I feel pretty confident that he can hold the horse at inside (Thomas Shelby).”
Plainsman, the 9-5 favorite, paid $5.80 to win the 1 1/16 mile on the fast track in 1:43.79.
“He got out of there very well. I could have gone[in the lead]on the first turn, but (Thomas Shelby) decided to go too, so I just sat outside all the way there to watch. . what happened,” said Rosario, “He did well. He continued to fight. The last part, it looked like the other horse was coming back, but then (Plainsman) did. He wants to win.”
Bred in Kentucky by Joseph Minor of Street Sense mare SS Pinafore, the third-grader’s half-brother Liam was the second of seven ponies from his dam, who also had one Quality Sugar yearn to yearn and be bred to be Real for the year 2022.
He was purchased at the Keeneland September 2016 Sale for $350,000 from a Taylor Made Sales Agency shipment.
Thomas Shelby of M and M Racing, a 6 year old kid Curlin gelding trained by Robertino Diodoro, who is racing in the first graded stock company, 1 3/4 length less than George Sharp’s California hybrid Famous children via Popular .
“I’ve actually ridden Plainsman before, and I know he has some speed. He’s the kind of horse they let loose,” Cohen said. “But even though we went a little early, we slowed down the second half pretty well. He had all the fights in the world for him.”
Lone Rock second pick 2-1 in the 8 and 122 pound highs, was a well beaten sixth for Diodoro in a race that was considerably shorter than the 2nd place win at 1 5/8 mile and 1 /2 miles that he signed up for in 2021.
“It wasn’t his day,” Diodoro said of Mighty Warrior gelding. “A little too short.”
Videotapes: Razorback H. (G3)
Miss Bigly Prevails in Bayakoa
Any form of help is much appreciated in winning a horse race.
For $250,000 in Bayakoa Shares (G3) on Saturdays for Oaklawn Elders and Mares, Miss Bigly successfully posted her original rated bet through some support from a surprising source.
Miss Bigly beat Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn Park
A month ago at Oaklawn’s Pippin Stakes, Miss Bigly was forced to chase speed Coach and paid a heavy price when she was second in the one-mile bet, three miles behind Coach.
The two distaff runners met again on the more than 1/16-mile Bayakoa race and once again the Coach took an early opportunity for Cox. But this time, the mare who had hooked her purse soon wasn’t Miss Bigly. It was Matera who was also coached by Cox and pushed his favored stablemate 9-5 over half a mile at: 47.88.
So while Coach won the Cox showdown and took the lead home, Miss Bigly and jockey Ramon Vazquez were content to finish fourth before unleashing a kick Strong tension between the horses.
“To my shame,” trainer Phil D’Amato said of Miss Bigly, “I think she made that early move in her last couple, just because of the circumstances, and today she She could have been a little more relaxed, waiting and conserving with her slightly late outburst, and I think that made all the difference.”
6 years old daughter of Gem House overtake a weary Trainer leaving the eighth column on the way to a 1/4 win.
“I just think she was driven by Ramon Vazquez very patiently. He was just saving the ground there, just waiting for the opportunity,” D’Amato said. “You could tell she was loaded and he got the perfect split between those two horses at the top of the lane and once she inched in the middle I think she’d have a good chance. “
Bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock and owned by Agave Racing Stables, Living The Dream Stables, and Rockin Robin Racing Stables, Miss Bigly is not out of the game. Citidancer mare Miss Puzzle and won for the eighth time in 26 starts and raised her earnings to $641,242. Miss Puzzle is also a Fashion Plate 1st place double winner and Mr Candy Bar bet winner. Her most recent pony is a 2020 pony born in Australia Flying Artie pony.
Miss Bigly crossed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.82 and paid $12.80 to win as fourth pick in field six.
She was originally purchased by Big Chief Racing for $20,000 from Lane’s End consignment at the 2017 Keeneland Sale in September, and in January 2020 was claimed by Eddie Kenneally for $30,000. She got off to a winning start for Kenneally before running for Agave Racing Stable and Rockin Robin Racing Stables, starting once with coach Michelle Lovell before being sent west to D’Amato.
Robert Zoellner She’s All Wolfe a half-Oklahoma daughter of Magna Graduate School rally from last to second with 36-1 odds for coach Donnie Von Hemmel, first ahead of Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim and Anna Cambron, and Brady and Zane Carruth’s bride jilted .
The coach is fourth.
Videotapes: Bayakoa S. (G3)
