Pirate's Punch To Aim for Oaklawn Handicap

Pirate's Punch knocked out the competition April 3 at Oaklawn Park in a five-length allowance-level victory for trainer Grant Forster, who said April 9 that the gelding is scheduled to run next in the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses there at 1 1/8 miles May 2.

Pirate's Punch, who was ridden by Tyler Baze, sat just off a stout early pace early before accelerating away from the field turning for home. The 4-year-old son of champion Shanghai Bobby covered 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in a meet-best 1:42.48.

"It was very similar to his allowance win this winter" at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, said Forster, who trains Pirate's Punch for Gulliver Racing, Craig Drager, and Dan Legan. "He's just a really talented horse. He's got so much speed that he ends up on the lead all the time, but he's very ratable."

Pirate's Punch began his racing career in Southern California with trainer Bill Morey, competing against promising 2-year-olds like Gunmetal Gray, Rowayton, Dueling, and Parsimony. Then, with trainer Jeff Mullins, Pirate's Punch broke his maiden for a $30,000 claiming tag July 6 at Ellis Park.

Forster said he received Pirate's Punch last summer when Mullins moved his Kentucky string to Southern California for the Del Mar meeting.

"It just worked out that Billy Morey, who bought the horse and trained the horse as a 2-year-old initially, is a good friend of mine," Forster said. "He recommended me to the owners. It worked out that I ran in a race at Ellis Park the same day that Pirate's Punch broke his maiden, and I got to meet the primary owner (Gulliver Racing), Phil Bongiovanni, and we kind of hit it off. Very fortunate for me they elected to give the horse to me, and I just kind of got him at the right time. He had just broken his maiden and got a little confidence. He's just been on an absolute straight upward trend ever since."

In seven races for Forster, Pirate's Punch won allowances by 8 3/4 lengths at Indiana Grand, 11 1/2 lengths at Fair Grounds, and five lengths at Oaklawn. He also ran third in both the Super Derby (G3) at Louisiana Downs and the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds.

Pirate's Punch has a 4-2-3 record from 13 starts and earnings of $191,551. He is a half brother to graded stakes winner Cocked and Loaded and Girvin , a grade 1 winner and earner of more than $1.6 million who stands for $7,500 at Ocala Stud in Florida.

Jareth Loveberry on the Mend

Jockey Jareth Loveberry said in a text message to Oaklawn publicity April 8 that there is a chance he will return before the meet’s May 2 closing day. He suffered a fractured pelvis when he was unseated during training hours March 17. Loveberry said no surgery was required and he is “progressing nicely.”

“There isn’t much pain at all in the hip, just in the muscles around it from not being used for a while,” Loveberry said.

The jockey said he’s planning on riding this summer at Arlington International Racecourse, whose meet has been delayed from its customary early-May opening because of COVID-19.