March 16 was Hall of Fame Day at Oaklawn Park. Fans in attendance had the opportunity to meet and celebrate some of the best jockeys and trainers in the sport’s history before being treated to a thrilling performance in the six-furlong $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) as Jaxon Traveler defeated Tejano Twist by a nose.
A winner of this race four times when it was known as the Hot Springs Stakes (G3), 2020 Eclipse champion male sprinter and Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Whitmore was on hand to lead the field for the post parade and perhaps inspired these sprinters to put on a show worthy of his name.
Breaking well from the outside of the five-horse field, Jaxon Traveler found himself out-sprinted early by stablemate Ryvit and Surveillance and settled third behind fractions of :22.41 and :46.23.
Chris Landeros aboard 2023 Whitmore winner Tejano Twist looked like he was ready to launch on the far turn, but was forced four wide into the stretch. Flavien Prat and Jaxon Traveler took first run at the pacesetters while Tejano Twist got into gear and the match was set. Jaxon Traveler took the lead inside the eighth pole while Tejano Twist gained ground with every stride in the middle of the track.
Approaching the wire, Tejano Twist took a lunge for the lead at the wire, but his head bobbed a nose short as the clock stopped in 1:10.04. Jaxon Traveler held on, paying $13 for his victory.
“Watching it live, I was hoping he held on,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “A big sigh of relief when they put his number up.”
The win was the third on the card for Asmussen. A member of the Hall of Fame himself, Asmussen couldn’t help but feel sentimental of putting on a big day in front of so many greats.
“It’s what I dreamed of since I was a little kid,” Asmussen said. “To be in their company is extremely special.”
A 6-year-old son of Munnings , Jaxon Traveler earned his seventh stakes victory and second at the grade 3 level. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, he improved his overall record to 9-7-5 from 28 starts for earnings of $891,849.
Video: Whitmore S. (G3)
Asternia Dominant in Purple Martin
Trainer Randy Morse’s big day at Oaklawn was highlighted by the victory of Asternia , whom Morse owns in partnership with Randy Patterson and Sam Vogel, in the six-furlong $200,000 Purple Martin Stakes.
Asternia wins the Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park
Settling second early off the flank of front-running Brooklynn Drew , Asternia looked full of run through fractions of :22.06 and :45.68. Pulling on jockey Emmanuel Esquivel, the daughter of Astern cruised to the lead at the five-sixteenths pole and began to open up.
Favored Xtreme Diva moved up on the outside, but could not keep up as they entered the stretch. Pouring it on late, Asternia hit the finish line alone, winning by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:10.51.
Asternia paid $9.00 for her win. Blue Squall closed for second while Xtreme Smoke Show was third. Xtreme Diva faded to fifth.
Seeming to have gone off form late in her 2-year-old year, Asternia has turned it around at age 3.
“She’s always shown a lot more talent than her races have actually shown,” said Morse. “Today she showed up.”
The turnaround in form could be attributed to the addition of blinkers. Debuting the equipment in a Feb. 2 allowance optional claiming race at Oaklawn, she set the pace early before being caught late by Xtreme Diva to finish second by three-quarters of a length. Her second start with blinkers led to her first stakes victory and second lifetime win in seven starts. She has now earned $269,985.
Video: Purple Martin S. (BT)
Taxed, Rocket Can Return as Winners in Oaklawn Allowances
In the fifth race, Morse saddled 2023 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) winner Taxed for her 4-year-old debut in a $141,000 allowance optional claimer.
Taxed wins the fifth race, an allowance optional claimer, at Oaklawn Park
Off since Sept. 23 when third in the Seneca Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs, the daughter of Collected dropped 10 lengths back early before launching an eye-catching rally in the stretch to draw off and win by 3 1/2 lengths, finishing the six furlongs in 1:10.53. The race was the first of her 12-race career shorter than a mile.
“Good horses are easy to train,” Morse said of Taxed. Owned by Richard Bahde, Taxed could appear next in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn April 13 to build on her career earnings of $524,324.
Video: Oaklawn Park, Race 5, AOC
Bill Mott was present at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame day and was rewarded as Rocket Can won his 4-year-old debut in the 10th race, a $141,000 allowance optional claiming race.
Winner of the 2023 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, Rocket Can had not been seen in a race since finishing ninth in the 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Settling five lengths back early, Rocket Can made a run for the lead around the far turn and held steady for a 1 1/2-length victory, completing the mile in 1:37.77.
Owned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Rocket Can improved his record to 3-2-0 from nine starts for earnings of $468,013.
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