Trainer Steve Asmussen sends out a pair of quality 3-year-old colts in Cazadero and Jaxon Traveler for the March 20 Gazebo Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Six sophomores will line up for the six-furlong $150,000 Gazebo, the feature event on Saturday's 11-race card in Hot Springs.
Stonestreet Stables' Cazadero proved to be a precocious juvenile last summer when airing the field by 4 3/4 lengths in the June 27 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on the heels of an eye-popping debut victory. The Street Sense colt was then sent to Saratoga Race Course where he finished a non-threatening fifth behind stablemate Jackie's Warrior in the Aug. 7 Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2).
Away from the races since that effort, Cazadero has prepared for the first start of his 2021 campaign with a series of breezes at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, including a bullet :59 five-furlongs from the gate March 7.
The current leading rider of the Oaklawn meet, Ricardo Santana Jr., takes the reins on Cazadero.
Maryland-bred Jaxon Traveler should poise a formidable challenge to his stablemate. The son of Munnings enters the Gazebo undefeated after three consecutive triumphs on the Mid-Atlantic circuit, including a last out black-type win versus state-breds in the Dec. 5 Maryland Juvenile Futurity. In the bay's second start, an Oct. 23 allowance optional claimer against open company at Laurel Park, Jaxon Traveler drew off to a four-length score over fellow Gazebo entrant Sir Wellington.
Francisco Arrieta will be aboard the West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner-owned colt.
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, March 20, 2021, Race 10Entries: Gazebo S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Sir Wellington (LA)
Alex L. Canchari
119
McLean Robertson
7/2
2
2Dusty Hill (AR)
Terry J. Thompson
117
Tim Dixon
8/1
3
3Lock Up (KY)
David Cabrera
117
D. Wayne Lukas
10/1
4
4Jaxon Traveler (MD)
Francisco Arrieta
119
Steven M. Asmussen
5/2
5
5Game Day Play (KY)
Ramon A. Vazquez
119
W. Bret Calhoun
3/1
6
6Cazadero (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
119
Steven M. Asmussen
9/5