CHIEF OF AFFAIRS EQUALS STAKES RECORD IN HOT SPRINGS

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Sunday, March 20, 2011) – Chief of Affairs capped off a huge weekend at Oaklawn Park with a dominating performance in Sunday’s $75,000 Hot Springs Stakes that equaled the stakes record time of 1:08 2/5 for six furlongs. His win follows victories on Saturday by Havre de Grace, who equaled the stakes record in the $150,000 Azeri Stakes (G3), and The Factor, who jumped onto Kentucky Derby (G1) trail with his eye-catching effort in the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (G2).

Breaking from the rail under Oaklawn Park’s leading jockey Cliff Berry, Chief of Affairs sprinted clear of the field at the break and was never seriously tested through fractions of :21 6/5 and :44 1/5 for the first half mile and still managed to cruise to a 2 ¾-length victory over Inkado. Native Ruler, the slight 3-2 favorite, came running at the end, but had to settle for third.

Agastache and Coronet of a Baron completed the order of finish. And Music Came was scratched.
“I felt really good when he broke sharp from the one-hole,” said Berry. “Sometimes that can trip them up, but he got right out of there. Then I was real happy when nobody else was able to lap up on us. I was very confident from there. My instructions were ‘let him rip.’ So I did.”

Chief of Affairs, who had finished second last year in the King Cotton and Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3), improved his Oaklawn record to 6-2-3-1 and his overall record to 15-6-4-3. He has now earned $248,763 for owners Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch.

The Texas-bred Yonaguska gelding returned $5.20, $4.00 and $2.40 at odds of 3-2.

Trainer Bret Calhoun, speaking from his New Orleans base, said Chief of Affairs would likely be pointed toward the $200,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) again this year, scheduled for Thursday, April 14 as part of the Racing Festival of the South.