Oil Money Strikes Pay Dirt in Highland Ice Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Oil Money wins the Highland Ice Stakes at Will Rogers Downs
Though crude oil prices are down, Oil Money, the equine version, returned handsomely in scoring an 18-1 upset in the $50,000 Highland Ice Stakes April 7 at Will Rogers Downs.
Sent east last month from Turf Paradise in Arizona, where racing was shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Oil Money took charge early under jockey Ty Kennedy, setting an opening quarter-mile in the six-furlong contest in :22.12. Then on the turn, he came under a bit more pressure, with 6-5 second choice Minister of Soul dialing up the heat with a half-mile in :44.55.
He dispatched that rival once in the stretch, leaving only eventual runner-up Imma Bling to pose a danger. But the latter's momentum stalled late over the inner-portion of the track and Oil Money lasted by a neck, clocked in 1:09.35 for the distance on a fast track. He paid $38.20 for a $2 win wager.
Minister of Soul, who had dropped back to fifth in midstretch, got a second wind and edged Grade One by a neck for show, 1 1/2 lengths behind the runner-up.
Nero, the even-money favorite, loomed coming into the lane after stalking the pace but came up empty and ran fifth.
The win from 4-year-old Oil Money gave him his third black-type stakes victory following earlier triumphs in the Zia Park Juvenile Stakes at age 2 and Manitoba Derby at age 3. He improved his record to 6-for-15 and elevated his earnings to $159,147.
Robertino Diodoro trains the gelded son of J P's Gusto for owner Charles Garvey. The gelding was bought at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2018 June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale by agent Nick Hines for $28,000 from the Victory Stable consignment. A year earlier, he was a $1,300 purchase by Victor Dominguez from consignor Journeyman Bloodstock Services at the 2018 OBS October Yearlings Sale.
Bred in Florida by Brent and Crystal Fernung, Mike Sebastian Sr., Daniel Flanigan, and Eugene Cahalan, Oil Money is out of the stakes-placed Candy Ride mare Cryptocandiac. He is the second winner from his dam with the other being Cory's Cutie (by Congrats ), who went 4-for-33, making $44,284.
Cryptocandiac also has a 3-year-old unraced Violence colt named Stalactite, and a yearling filly by Central Banker .