Nehro is going to run in the Oaklawn Handicap instead of New Orleans Handicap
Trained by Steven Asmussen for Zayat Stables, the 4-year-old colt, Nehro, did not run a stakes or a graded stakes race after his 4th place finish in the last year’s 1 ½ miles Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, until this year he opened his seasonal account
with a win in the Fair Grounds Race Course allowance/optional claimer at about 1 miles and 70 yards on 25 February, 2012, as he covered the distance in 1 minute and 41.88 seconds.
The Kentucky bred son of Mineshaft, Nehro last year as a sophomore turned in runner up efforts both in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, was originally scheduled for a run in the New Orleans Handicap where he was to go up against
the likes of Mucho Macho Man and many other senior pros.
However, he was reportedly tying up in training in the past month, and as a result he got scratched from the New Orleans Handicap and got installed in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on 14 April, 2012.
The 1 1/8 mile long test on dirt has so far reeled in another competitive field, with the likes of the Grade 1 Donn Handicap winner, Hymn Book, the Essex Handicap winner, Alternation, who has done exceptionally well at Oaklawn Park and Win Willy.
The 6-year-old McLean Robertson trained, Win Willy hasn’t raced since 9 April, 2011, and his last start was in the 2011 edition of the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, that he went on to win.
The son of Monarchos, out of mare City Fair by Carson City, Win Willy will be looking to defend his title against a much stiffer field than the one he raced against last year.
In other news, Chris Richard took out, It Happened Again, his best older male and two of his best 3-year-olds, Pee H Dee and Ring it Up, for a workout session.
“It Happened Again and Pee H Dee were head-to-head the whole way,” said Richard. “It was a very good work for both them. It was also a really good work for Ring It Up. I was very pleased with all of them.”
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