HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Group 1-placed Bendoog will make his first start for Arkansas-based owner Frank Fletcher on Friday in a competitive allowance at Oaklawn Park that also drew $1.2 million earner Disarm and Grade 2 winner Catching Freedom.
The 1 1/16-mile race is for 4-year-olds and up and drew a field of eight that also includes Horace Mann, who has a chance to slip away on the front end, and In a Jam, a stakes winner whose half-sister Taxed won an allowance Sunday at Oaklawn.
Bendoog, a four-time winner who has earned more than $760,000, invades from Payson Park. He has been working right along in South Florida for his first start since Oct. 25. The race Friday was appealing on several levels, said Bill Mott, who also trained Bendoog prior to the sale to Fletcher.
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“The horse has won a few races,” Mott said. “It’s not that easy to find races for him, so we shipped him up and we’re taking a chance.”
Bendoog will get good support off back-to-back runner-up finishes in allowances, one against the Grade 1-placed Pipeline at Churchill Downs and the other against Grade 2 winner Law Professor at the Belmont at the Big A meet.
“He had no big excuses in either race,” Mott said. “He ran into some nice horses and finished up well.”
Bendoog earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97 for his most recent effort, and it’s the best last-race number in the field Friday.
Rafael Bejarano, who won four races Sunday at Oaklawn, has the mount from post 5. Bendoog could find himself sitting off Horace Mann and Disarm.
“He’s generally in a stalking-type position,” Mott said of Bendoog.
Bendoog is a 6-year-old horse by Gun Runner. His dam, Nellie Cashman, was a Grade 3 winner of nearly $400,000.
“He’s a nice big horse,” Mott said. “He’s easy to look at, easy to train. He’s a fun horse to have around. He’s uncomplicated. All of those things combined make him a nice horse to have around.”
Disarm, another launching his season, is making his first start since running fourth in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic in September at Churchill. Following the race, winner Hit Show came back in his next start to take the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland and third-place finisher Rattle N Roll returned to take the Grade 2 Clark at Churchill.
Disarm has been preparing for his return with some strong works at Fair Grounds. Keith Asmussen has the mount from post 8 for Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen.
Catching Freedom, who won last year’s Louisiana Derby, will start from post 4. Francisco Arrieta has the mount for Albaugh Family Stables and trainer Brad Cox.
Zatara, who is a winner at Oaklawn, is a half-brother to Jerome winner Cyclone State.
The seventh race is a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, and the field includes Triple Crown nominees Passion Rules, who is unbeaten in two starts for Cox, and Handsome Pants, who was third against similar last out at Fair Grounds for trainer Kenny McPeek.
◗ Oaklawn leading rider Cristian Torres is serving a two-day suspension for a riding infraction. His days are Friday and Sunday, agent Cody Autrey said. Torres is riding Saturday.
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