Inca Empire and Ghost Hero have accounted for the last two runnings of the year’s richest race for Oklahoma-breds, but there’s a chance neither will go favored Monday in the $50,000 Cherokee Nation at Will Rogers Downs.
That role could go to C W Prize, who is looking for his third consecutive stakes win at the meet in the one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Oklahoma.
A field of eight has signed on for the handicap, including stakes winners Tommyhawk and Kaleo.
C W Prize began his stakes streak March 25 with a two-length win in the $55,000 Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma Sprint. He then moved into open company for the $50,000 Highland Ice at the same six-furlong distance and won by a half-length April 15.
The efforts came as part of a bigger run of success for C W Prize, who has won five of his last eight races. He will be making a rare start around two turns in the Cherokee Nation and ran arguably the best race of his career at the configuration when he won the $75,000 Jeffrey Hawk Memorial.
C W Prize defeated open company in the Dec. 13 race at Remington Park, shuttling home in front by 3 1/2 lengths for a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 88. C W Prize gets good pedigree support for route racing as a son of Code West, a Grade 3 winner at two turns who is by Lemon Drop Kid.
Joe Offolter trains C W Prize for breeder and owner Bryan Hawk. Richard Eramia, who has been the horse’s regular rider, has the mount from post 2. C W Prize could set the pace on the stretch-out, or perhaps track the fresh Ghost Hero.
Ghost Hero, a multiple winner at two turns who captured the $131,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup at 1 1/16 miles in October 2023 at Remington, is making his first start since June. He exits a win in a six-furlong allowance sprint at Lone Star Park. Ghost Hero set the pace and covered the distance in a sharp 1:09.20.
He shows some sharp works for his return, among his drills a half-mile in a bullet 47.60 seconds on April 27 at Lone Star. Ghost Hero is drawn right outside of C W Prize in post 3. Floyd Wethey Jr., the regular rider on Ghost Hero, has the mount for Norman Stables and trainer Jayde Gelner.
Inca Empire won the $131,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup last October at Remington. He is moving back into the statebred ranks after facing open foes in a pair of races at Oaklawn Park. In his recent out, Inca Empire was fourth in a $12,500 starter allowance over 1 1/16 miles on March 8. He brings a contrasting style into the Cherokee Nation.
Inca Empire has done his best work from off the pace and can take full advantage if Ghost Hero and C W Prize end up making for some fast fractions up front. Inca Empire will break from the rail under jockey Travis Cunningham. Oscar Flores trains Inca Empire for Danny Caldwell. The horse is a half-brother to Miss Code West, a seven-time stakes winner who for the past two years has been voted horse of the meet at Remington.
Hawk is the breeder of Inca Empire.
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