HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Bourbon Bash showed a level of talent early on that earned him a chance against stakes competition, but he truly appears to be coming to hand now, said trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who will saddle the 4-year-old in Friday’s ninth race at Oaklawn Park. The entry-level allowance is for 4-year-olds and up and highlights the first local card since Jan. 13. A winter storm forced the cancellation of racing Jan. 14 and on Jan. 19-21 and led to nine days of lost training through Monday. The comeback card also features a two-other-than allowance for 4-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles carded as race 10. The full field includes U. S. Army, winner of the Jeffrey Hawk Memorial last month at Remington Park. The six-furlong ninth race drew 12, including Media Mogul, a half-brother to Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo; Wicked Again, a full brother to $1.5 million earner Wicked Halo; and Flying Houdini, a half-brother to $2.2 million earner Zandon. Bourbon Bash, who has placed in three stakes, should go favored on the strength of his season debut here Jan. 1. He was second by a half-length in a first-level allowance and earned a career- and race-high Beyer Speed Figure of 90. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. “He’s really going in the right direction,” Lukas said last week. “He was a little bit immature as a 2-year-old, yet he showed some brilliance from time to time in a couple of those races. He’s locked in now. I like him in there. I’d like to see him run a big race and next time go on to bigger and better things.” As a 2-year-old, Bourbon Bash popped a Beyer Speed Figure of 83 in his second career start, when he won a maiden special weight at Saratoga by eight lengths. He later ran second in the Bowman Mill at Keeneland and third in the Renaissance at Oaklawn before moving to two turns and finishing fifth in last year’s Rebel and 10th in the Arkansas Derby. “We pretty much found out he wanted to stay under a mile, possibly,” Lukas said. Cristian Torres, who won four races Jan. 13 at Oaklawn, including the Mockingbird Stakes, has the mount for BC Stables. Bourbon Bash will start from post 7 and could be prominent as he exits a six-furlong race that went in a quick 1:09.89. “He’ll be forwardly placed,” Lukas said. “He’ll get right into it. He’s very quick. Maybe there are quicker ones in there. I don’t know. He will show speed, I would expect.” Halmstad, who will add blinkers, also figures to show speed. He won his maiden on the front end in September at Keeneland. Harry Hernandez has the mount from post 12. Wicked Again is facing winners for the first time after taking a maiden special weight sprint here Dec. 16. He could stalk the pace under Keith Asmussen, who will be aboard from post 8. Happy Is a Choice exits the same race as Bourbon Bash, finishing fifth in his first start since December 2022. Plausible Denile was eighth against the same rivals, in an uncharacteristic race. ◗ Oaklawn has moved the Grade 3, $800,000 Southwest and it’s three supporting stakes from Saturday to Feb. 3 due to the impact of the recent winter weather. The Southwest will be drawn Sunday. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.