Nodouble and Downthedustyroad Breeders' Stakes
Compiled by Robert Yates
Contact: Chris Ho, Vice President of Marketing, cho@oaklawn.com, 501-623-4411 ext. 4201
Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024
BOHEMIAN BO - Photo Credit: Coady Media
KANTEX - Photo Credit: Coady Media
HOT SPRINGS, AR – Favorites ruled Oaklawn’s stakes doubleheader for older Arkansas-bred sprinters Saturday.
The speedy Bohemian Bo parlayed a soft early fraction into a front-running 1 ½-length victory over Willow Creek Road in the $150,000 Nodouble Breeders’ under leading rider Cristian Torres.
In the companion feature for females, Kantex rallied from sixth early to capture the $150,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders’ by a neck over Mozingo. Pacesetter Connie K, a stablemate of Kantex, was another three-quarters of a length farther back in third.
Bohemian Bo (2-1) covered six furlongs over a fast track in a sharp 1:09.98, a task made easier after clearing his seven rivals through a moderate :22.34 opening quarter-mile.
Tommy Vance of Hot Springs trains Bohemian Bo ($6.20) for Texans Mike and Linda Mazoch. The Nodouble was the first career stakes victory, and fourth in 12 starts overall for Bohemian Bo, raising his earnings to $333,067.
The Downthedustyroad was the first career stakes victory for Kantex (6-5) and among three victories on the program for jockey Rafael Bejarano.
Kantex’s winning time for six furlongs over a fast track was 1:11.64. Randy Morse trains and co-owns Kantex ($4.40) in partnership with Randy Patterson. They also bred the 5-year-old Street Strategy mare in partnership.
Kantex has a 5-1-2 record from 10 lifetime starts and earnings of $356,835.
Racing resumes Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CST, with a nine-race card Weather permitting, the infield will be open.
NODOUBLE QUOTES
WINNING JOCKEY: (Cristian Torres/Bohemian Bo): “The first quarter is the key with him. Every time he goes in, like, :21, he kind of hangs a little bit at the end. After I got the :22, it didn’t matter how fast he was going after that. That first quarter was the key. Thank God, we got the :22 and held on. He’s a nice horse. I’ve ridden him before. He’s a game horse. He gave it all today.”
WINNING TRAINER: (Tommy Vance/Bohemian Bo): “That (early pace) was Arkansas-breds, but I thought he was OK. (Owners) Mike and Linda Mazoch have trusted me with the horses. It’s really nice.”
DOWNTHEDUSTYROAD QUOTES
WINNING JOCKEY: (Rafael Bejarano/Kantex): “I’m really happy. I had a tremendous trip. There was a lot of speed in the race and it worked out very good for my horse. My horse came from behind. We stayed on the rail and saved ground. When I saw everybody come out, I took a chance on the rail. I had a beautiful trip, good finish and nailed them on the wire.”
WINNING TRAINER/THIRD-PLACE TRAINER (Randy Morse/Kantex/Connie K): “Rafael (Bejarano) rode a good race. He always does. She (Kantex) ran well. She got it done. That’s all that matters. The other mare (Connie K) ran great. If she would have had an outside post, it would have made a huge difference. She was pinned down there and had to hold her position.”
