Caddo River to Return From Layoff in Oaklawn Allowance

After beginning 2021 with a bang at Oaklawn Park, Caddo River  will try to go out the same way back at the Hot Springs, Ark., track. Making his first start in more than six months, the 3-year-old Hard Spun   colt returns Dec. 19 in a $100,000 one-mile allowance optional claiming event, the day's eighth race. 

Caddo River, a homebred for John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs, hasn't run since finishing a well-beaten sixth in the June 5 Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Nassau County Industrial Development (G1) at Belmont Park. He ran three times at Oaklawn earlier this year, registering a record-setting 10 1/4-length victory in January's Smarty Jones Stakes at a mile finishing fifth in the Rebel Stakes (G2) in March and a runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in April. 

After being withdrawn from Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) consideration because of a minor illness, Caddo River received a lengthy vacation following a flat performance in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens.

"We just gave him time," trainer Brad Cox said. "He had no injury. Just time and freshen him up. To try to make the Derby and all that, it's very demanding on a horse. It felt like it had kind of taken its toll between all of that, the whole winter. The race in the Woody Stephens was not what we were looking for, so we gave him time and he's come back and trained very, very well. I think this is a really good race to get him back going."

Caddo River resumed training in late summer/early fall, Cox said, and returned to the work tab at Blackwood Stables in Kentucky before moving to the trainer's barn at Churchill Downs. Caddo River breezed three times in November at Churchill Downs and has logged three works in his return to Oaklawn, including a six-furlong bullet (:59 4/5) Dec. 4. 

Facing older horses for the first time Sunday, Caddo River is the 8-5 program favorite and scheduled to break from the rail under regular rider Florent Geroux. Also entered in the projected eight-horse lineup is Irish Unity , runner-up in the St. Louis Derby Aug. 28 at FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Cox said Caddo River's comeback race could help determine where he stands among the trainer's deep roster of older horses in 2022.

"We have Plainsman   there as well," Cox said, referring to the multiple grade 3 winner he trains for Anthony. "We have Warrior's Charge , Night Ops , Shared Sense  is down here (Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots). We have Mandaloun , Concert Tour . We have a very good group of horses.

"Listen, he's going to have to step up. He was a very, very good 2-/3-year-old. Some of them take those steps forward, some of them don't. If he takes a step forward, he'll be fine and, hopefully, he will be a player in the handicap division there."

In Sunday's sixth race, Cox is scheduled to send out unbeaten Como Square  in an entry-level allowance sprint for 2-year-old fillies. Another Anthony homebred, Como Square is by super sire Into Mischief   and a half sister to Caddo River. She exits a 4 3/4-length debut victory Nov. 11 at Indiana Grand.

Caddo River and Como Square are out of the Anthony-raced stakes winner Pangburn , a daughter of Congrats  who was an allowance winner in 2015 at Oaklawn.

Shedaresthedevil Eyes Oaklawn Campaign

Cox also said that multiple grade 1 winner Shedaresthedevil  should return to his barn early next month to begin serious preparations for a 2022 campaign that figures to again unfold at Oaklawn.  

Co-owned by Staton Flurry of Hot Springs, Shedaresthedevil opened 2021 with a victory over Letruksa in the Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares in March at Oaklawn. Her final start this year was a sixth-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar. Shedaresthedevil, as a racing/broodmare prospect, sold for $5 million out of Hunter Valley Farm's consignment to Whisper Hill Farm/Flurry Racing/Qatar Racing at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's premier breeding stock sale, but will remain with Cox for a 2022 campaign. Flurry said the 4-year-old daughter of Daredevil   received a 30-day break following the Breeders' Cup and is now in light training at new co-owner Mandy Pope's farm in Florida. Cox previously campaigned the filly for Flurry, Qatar Racing, and Big Aut Farm.

Cox said the March 12 Azeri Stakes (G2) and the April 23 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn are targets for Shedaresthedevil, who has bankrolled $2,331,458 after winning nine of 17 career starts.

"I think those are realistic goals," Cox said. "We'll get her back and probably ship her to the Fair Grounds and train her here and just kind of see how things go. I'm excited about hopefully taking a big swing at the Apple Blossom."