Intently matched area of 6 set for American Magnificence

HOT SPRINGS — A top-heavy area of six is entered in at present’s characteristic at Oaklawn Racing On line casino Resort.

Sarah Harper, Sizzling and Sultry, and Excellent Happiness are, so as, the 7-5, 9-5, and 7-2 morning-line high selections within the $150,000 6-furlong American Magnificence Stakes for fillies and mares 4 years outdated and up. The American Magnificence is the sixth of 10 races scheduled at Oaklawn at present.

Submit time for the American Magnificence is about for two:55 p.m.

“I believe there’s three horses proper off the bat that might be the logical favorites,” mentioned Ron Moquett, coach of Sarah Harper. “However the cause we run the race is as a result of people have opinions; horses have the details.”

Sarah Harper, a 5-year-old mare by Australian-bred Vancouver and a maternal granddaughter of Scat Daddy, was ridden in her final begin by Rafael Bejarano to second within the eight-horse area of Oaklawn’s 5 1/2-furlong Poinsettia Stakes on Dec. 17. Bejarano can be listed to journey Sarah Harper within the American Magnificence. She has labored 4 furlongs thrice for the reason that Poinsettia, topped by breezes of 47.80 on New Yr’s Day and 48.60 on Monday.

“I will let Rafael make the choice tips on how to journey her based mostly on what occurs on the break,” Moquett mentioned. “I’d really feel assured if she was on the lead. I am going to really feel assured if she’s sitting third or fourth proper off of them. I like the way in which she’s coaching, and I understand these horses are shut sufficient matched that it could do us a service to be in place and have an environment friendly journey.”

Sarah Harper (10 3-1-4, $282,593), is 4 1-1-1 at Oaklawn. She completed seventh of 9 at 8-1 in final season’s American Magnificence, 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner in a crowded end.

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Sizzling and Sultry completed second in her final begin, 2 1/4 lengths behind Yuugiri in a 6-furlong allowance race at Oaklawn on Dec. 30. That begin got here after an almost sixth-month break for the filly. Yuugiri was the winner of Oaklawn’s 2022 Grade III 1 1/16-mile Fantasy Stakes.

Sizzling and Sultry is a 4-year-old daughter of Speightster educated by Norm Casse. David Cabrera is about to journey her within the American Magnificence.

“We’re very enthusiastic about her,” Casse mentioned. “Not likely positive precisely what she’s greatest at, if she’s a sprinter or a router. I believe that the jury continues to be out on that, however this race got here up, and it simply appears like a very good likelihood to hit the board in a stake together with her, probably win.”

William Henderson’s and Victor Mendiola’s Excellent Happiness (22 3-9-3, $336,962), a 6-year-old by Majesticperfection, has not received in 4 begins from coach Chris Hartman’s 35-horse Oaklawn barn however has completed second via fourth in every begin since Hartman claimed her final season.

“I simply needed to take a spin together with her and see,” Hartman mentioned. “We have not been capable of win a race together with her. She’s all the time been aggressive in races, however we have not been capable of knock her residence but.”

In her final begin, Excellent Happiness, 9 2-1-1 at Oaklawn, completed third within the 5 1/2-furlong Pan Zareta Stakes on the Truthful Grounds in New Orleans on Dec. 3.

Hartman is at present second in Oaklawn’s coach standings for the 2022-23 meet with 14 wins. By means of Friday, horses educated by Hartman have received 38.9% of their Oaklawn begins this season.

“It has been begin,” Hartman mentioned. “Hopefully, we maintain it out till the tip.”

I am the Boss of Me, Arron Sones’ and Harrison Sones’ Lisette, and Randy Patterson’s and Randy Morse’s Arkansas-bred Connie Okay are the opposite American Magnificence entrants.

Connie Okay (13 5-3-1, $352,725), a 5-year-old daughter of Road Technique educated by Morse, has a 6 3-3-0 report in Oaklawn begins. At 12-1 on the morning line, she leads the American Magnificence area in profession wins and earnings.

Jon Court docket, set to journey Connie Okay within the American Magnificence, has ridden six of her profession begins.

“If issues go proper, she all the time performs her greatest,” Court docket mentioned. “We’d like issues to go proper.”