'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Ewing (Knicks Go), perfect in two starts but unraced since taking out the GII Saratoga Special Stakes Aug. 2, arrived on the Oaklawn Park backstretch Monday, Dec. 22 after being based in Central Florida with trainer Mark Casse.
According to Caden Arthur, who oversees Casse's Oaklawn string, the $37,000 Keeneland September buyback turned $585,000 OBS April breezer is scheduled to work in Hot Springs Dec. 28 in advance of his return to action, which could come in a sprint allowance in January, Arthur said.
“Going to do a half-mile seven days out, just to get over the surface a little and see how he does,” Arthur said Friday morning. “[Casse] said he's been training great. He looks great.”
Racing in partnership by D. J. Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and Kenneth Freirich, Ewing galloped away from his rivals to graduate by a dozen lengths on Saratoga debut July 5, earning 'Rising Star' status. Sent off at odds of 17-10 while attempting to negotiate the hike into stakes company last time, the gray made all the running and went on to account for fellow 'Rising Star' Obliteration (Violence) by a length.
Ewing would have been well-backed for the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 4, but returned from a workout 'not at 100%' and missed that contest as well as the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
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