Apriority to head the Count Fleet Handicap field
The Grade 3, $250,000 Count Fleet Handicap has reeled in 6, 4-year-old and up colts and geldings to fight it out over a distance of 6 furlongs at Oaklawn Park on 14 April, 2012.
Donald R. Dizney’s 5-year-old horse, Apriority, will be looking to get himself right up there with the nation’s best sprinter will vie for the race with full strength, and as being the 118 pounds high weight in the Count Fleet Handicap, Apriority will break
from post number 5 under jockey Rafael Bejarano for trainer David Fawkes.
The Florida bred son of Grand Slam out of mare Midway Squall by Storm Bird, Apriority was based at Calder Casino and race course all winter, where he ran at Gulfstream Park, but for the Count Fleet Handicap he travels to Arkansas from Calder.
Apriority in his 4-year-old season participated in all the top sprints. He finished second in the Sunshine Millions Sprint to winner Amazombie in his second start last year.
Winning an allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park over six and a half furlongs, he moved to Aqueduct for the Grade 1 Carter Handicap, where he turned in a game second to winner Morning Line.
Apriority was second yet again in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes to winner Aikenite at about seven furlongs.
With a couple of good performances in the 2011 season, Apriority finished 6th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the closed his season with a win in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at about 6 furlongs over at Gulfstream Park.
Apriority is coming off a second place finish by a head to Soaring Stocks in a Gulfstream Park allowance/optional claimer six and a half furlong sprint.
“He couldn’t be doing any better,” said assistant trainer Scott Acker, who traveled with Apriority to Oaklawn April 11. “He’s a good shipper and he was really focused when we galloped this morning. It’s a good sign when he gets right to work on these trips
and doesn’t do much looking around.”
The Count Fleet Handicap attracted the rampant red hot mare, Izzy Rules, as well as Hamazing Destiny, which will give Apriority a tough challenge to finish on top of the pile.
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