HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Nashville don’t know slow. The races he’s been in throughout his career are the kinds that make the Teletimer tremble. “He's never been in a race that they didn’t run brilliantly fast, ever,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, “and it’s usually him doing all the running.” Nashville will put his speed to the test Saturday in the $150,000 King Cotton at Oaklawn Park. Nashville will meet another cut from the same cloth in Hollis, with the six-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up looking like a real smackdown on the road to the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap. :: Serious horseplayers use serious products. Get DRF's premium past performances, now free for the first time The King Cotton field of nine also drew a Grade 1 winner in Collusion Illusion, a Grade 2 winner in Long Range Toddy, and the first two finishers from last year’s race in Boldor and Seven Nation Army. Nashville made his first start in a year last out at Oaklawn, running second in a Dec. 10 allowance Hollis won in track-record time. Hollis covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.17 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 109. Nashville now returns to the six-furlong distance over which he set a track record in November 2020 at Keeneland, where he won the Perryville Stakes in 1:07.89. Nashville won his debut by more than 11 lengths at Saratoga. He covered 6 1/2 furlongs in a blazing 1:14.48. “We’re very much looking forward to running him,” said Asmussen, who trains Nashville for CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm. “I’m pleased with getting that first race under his belt and I’ve loved his training since. We’re hoping for good weather and a fast track, and we’ll see what kind of a time he can throw down again.” Nashville broke from the rail last time, but has the benefit of an outside post Saturday, when he starts from gate 6 under Florent Geroux. Hollis, meanwhile, will start from the rail in the King Cotton. Trainer John Ortiz likes how the horse emerged from his breakout performance last out at Oaklawn. “He’s the fastest horse on the track right now and he acts like it,” he said. “He goes out there and flexes. He knows he’s top dog out there. I love how the horse looks right now. He’s as shiny as a copper penny.” Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for WSS Racing and 4 G Racing. Santana also was aboard for the track-record performance. “That race didn’t bother him at all,” said Ortiz. “To break a track record and doing it well within himself – it’s amazing to have such an athletic horse. Ricardo’s words were he didn’t let him all out yet. It’s nice to hear there’s some left in the tank.”