Marathoner Lone Rock Cuts Back for 1 1/8-Mile Tinsel

Long-distance specialist Lone Rock  cuts back to under 1 1/2 miles for the first time since landing an allowance optional claiming event last February for the inaugural $200,000 Tinsel Stakes Dec. 18 at Oaklawn Park.

Since then, Flying P Stable's 6-year-old gelding has been a dominating figure on the marathon distance scene, notching victories in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2), Brooklyn Stakes Presented by Northwell Health (G2), Birdstone Stakes, and Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

In his last effort, Lone Rock turned back the challenge of the classy Tizamagician  in deep stretch to win going away in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes, formerly known as the Breeders' Cup Marathon, on Breeders' Cup Saturday at Del Mar.

The son of Majestic Warrior , trained by Robertino Diodoro, is more than capable of winning at the Tinsel's 1 1/8-mile distance but will face no easy task as he lines up against graded stakes-winning millionaires Warrior's Charge  and Tenfold , as well as recent impressive Churchill Downs allowance victors Huge Bigly  and Beau Luminaire.

Diodoro said he doesn't believe cutting back to 1 1/8 miles will be a problem for Lone Rock.

"I don't think so, just because the horse is doing so good right now and there's enough speed in there, on paper, anyway," Diodoro said. "Again, we'll see what happens Saturday."

Diodoro said the Tinsel could serve as the gelding's bridge to another shot against grade 1 company in 2022. Lone Rock ran 10th in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) for 2-year-olds in 2017 at Keeneland, but spent most of his career in the allowance ranks before blossoming in niche events this year.

"At the same time, it's one day at a time, definitely," Diodoro said. "We're just focused on Saturday night now and see what happens."

Ramon Vazquez, who has piloted Lone Rock in his last six starts, will be back aboard.

Diodoro also has M and M Racing's Thomas Shelby  in the race, though he was subsequently entered in a starter allowance Dec. 19 at Oaklawn. The 5-year-old son of Curlin   has rolled to three consecutive wire-to-wire triumphs since September, including a gutsy Oct. 24 allowance optional claiming win over Warrior's Charge at Keeneland.

Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables' Warrior's Charge, appears well suited to a return to Arkansas. He previously won the 2020 Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn, one of three local wins he has from eight such starts.

"He likes Oaklawn," trainer Brad Cox said. "I think it's a good spot. He drew well. Looks like a shorter field. I think it's good timing since his last race. He received some big figures out of his last run and he's had plenty of time to recover from it. If he gets some similar figures again, I think we'll be in good shape."

Entries: Tinsel S.

Oaklawn Park, Saturday, December 18, 2021, Race 9

• STK
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:13 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Huge Bigly (WA)	Reylu Gutierrez	117	John Alexander Ortiz	6/1
2	2Lone Rock (KY)	Ramon A. Vazquez	124	Robertino Diodoro	8/5
3	3Beau Luminarie (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	124	Rodolphe Brisset	6/1
4	4Title Ready (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	124	Dallas Stewart	9/2
5	5Tenfold (KY)	Luis Contreras	117	Steven M. Asmussen	6/1
6	6Thomas Shelby (KY)	David Cohen	121	Robertino Diodoro	8/1
7	7Warrior's Charge (FL)	Florent Geroux	124	Brad H. Cox	5/2