Wednesday, Dec.18, 2024

Compiled by Robert Yates

When Kent Sweezey visited Oaklawn in 2016, it was a quick business trip.

Sweezey, then working for East Coast-based trainer Jimmy Jerkens, accompanied Grade 1 winner Effinex to Hot Springs for the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses.

Sweezey shipped into the barn of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, saddled Effinex and helped lead the millionaire New York-bred standout into the horseshoe-shaped infield winner’s circle reserved for stakes races at Oaklawn.

“Was here for, I think, 48 hours,” Sweezey said.

Now training, Sweezey will be spending much more time at Oaklawn in 2024-2025 because he’s wintering for the first time in Hot Springs.

Oaklawn opened Dec. 6, just five days after Churchill Downs’ fall meeting ended. Sweezey made 12 starts at Churchill Downs, which, like Oaklawn, has one of the highest purse structures in the country.

Laying the groundwork for Oaklawn, Sweezey claimed six horses at the Churchill Downs fall meet, all for Southern California owners Rachel and Sean Gerson (Starry Night Racing).

Sweezey was based at Churchill Downs and Monmouth Park in New Jersey last summer. But because he trains for Starry Night Racing, Sweezey decided to operate a “satellite string” for the first time and sent 12 horses to Del Mar in suburban San Diego for its summer meet.

“After summertime, we came back and did Churchill, then Keeneland and back to Churchill again and then we came

out here,” Sweezey said. “So, the horses that we kept in Kentucky are the ones that we sort of planned to be here.”

Sweezey said he began the Oaklawn meeting with eight horses, all for Starry Night Racing.

“Every one of them is a claimer,” said Sweezey, adding he plans to be active at the claim box. “We spent a quarter-million dollars on claiming horses and brought them out here. They (Starry Night Racing) have stepped up big time.”

Sweezey has registered two thirds and one fourth from three starts thus far at Oaklawn.

“We’re happy to be here,” Sweezey said. “That’s the No. 1 thing.”

Sweezey said he also has 40 horses at Palm Meadows Training Center in south Florida. A Kentucky native, Sweezey recorded his first of 321 career victories to date in 2017.

Milestone Watch

Oaklawn-based jockey Francisco Arrieta enters Friday's card with 993 career North American victories after winning Sunday’s fourth race aboard Curvino ($10) for trainer Peter Miller, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization.

Curvino was the 248th career Oaklawn victory for Arrieta, a native of Venezuela who began riding in the United States in 2012. Arrieta has been an Oaklawn regular since the 2021 meeting and was its co-leading rider in 2021-2022 with 62 victories.

Finish Lines

Racing resumes Friday at Oaklawn. First post is 12:30 p.m. (Central). … Curvino ($10) represented the third 2-year-old winner at the 2024-2025 Oaklawn meet for Southern California-based trainer Peter Miller in Sunday’s fourth race. … Trainer Todd Fincher recorded his first career Oaklawn victory in Sunday’s seventh race with Trumped ($11.40), who was ridden by Harry Hernandez. Fincher, a dominant force in New Mexico, brought a string of horses to Oaklawn for the first time at the 2022-2023 meeting. He finished fourth in the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in 2023 with Senor Buscador, who returned to win the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) – the world’s richest race – last February in Saudi Arabia. … Avery’s Mischief, the first foal out of millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Mia Mischief, finished fourth in Sunday’s sixth race at Oaklawn. It marked the career debut for Avery’s Mischief, a 2-year-old filly by millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Curlin.