AIN’T LIFE GRAND RALLIES LATE TO WIN LAKE OUACHITA STAKES

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jennifer Hoyt, Director of Racing

jhoyt@oaklawn.com or 501-363-4305

Ain't Life Grand and Jockey Martin Garcia

Photo credit: Coady Photography

AIN’T LIFE GRAND RALLIES LATE TO WIN LAKE OUACHITA STAKES

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Friday, May 5, 2023) – RPM Thoroughbreds’ Ain’t Life Grand, a dominate 3-year-old at Prairie Meadows last year, overcame a poor 4-year-old debut at Oaklawn March 18 and rallied late to win Friday’s inaugural $150,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes at odds of 10-1.

Ain’t life Grand settled into fifth-place as Great Escape took control early through fractions of :23 4/5 and :47 4/5 for the first half mile. The winner fell back to last after six furlongs in 1:12 2/5, but began to make his move after coming four wide into the stretch. He came flying late under jockey Martin Garcia and drew off to win by two lengths over Frosted Grace. Heavy favorite Mr. Wireless, who had been tracking in second, had to settle for third, while the pacesetter faded to fourth in the six-horse field. Winning time was 1:42 3/5.

Forza Di Oro, Joe Frazier and Perfect Flight were scratched.

“I think it was one of his better races because there were some awful nice horses in there,” winning trainer Kelly Von Hemel said. “For him to beat them, it was a really good race for him. He’s a 4-year-old. We thought he would get a little better this year and we’ve still got a way to go. But, I thought this proved that he’s getting better. It probably was his best race.”

Ain’t Life Grand, a Not This Time homebred colt, has now won seven of 12 career starts and has now earned $585,625. He returned $22.40, $7.40 and $3.60.

Live racing resumes Saturday with a 12:20 p.m. first post. The 12-race, closing day card is highlighted by the $150,000 Lake Hamilton Stakes and $200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship Stakes. Oaklawn will also be showing the full simulcast of the Kentucky Derby card from Churchill Downs. The 19-horse Kentucky Derby field features 10 runners that competed at Oaklawn this season including the top four finishers from the Arkansas Derby (G1) – Angel of Empire, King Russell, Reincarnate and Rocket Can – and Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Confidence Game.

Stakes Quotes:

Winning jockey Martin Garcia: “I worked him the last two times and I really liked him. He broke really good and three horses were sent. I sat right there behind them. I was right behind the favorite (Mr. Wireless). At the three-eighths (pole), they opened up. He took a little bit to get going. As soon as he switched to the right (lead leg), he just opened up.”

Winning trainer Kelly Von Hemel: “I think it was one of his better races because there’s some awful nice horses in there. For him to beat them, it was a really good race for him. He’s a 4-year-old. We thought he would get a little better this year and we’ve still got a way to go. But, I thought this proved that he’s getting better. It probably was his best race.”

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