BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Norman Stables LLC’s Drewmania will makes his stakes debut Friday on opening day of Oaklawn Park’s 2023-’24 season as the Florida-bred gelding is among a full field of a dozen 2-year-olds entered to run five-and-a-half furlongs in the $150,000 Advent.
Trainer Lonnie Briley is likely hoping for wet weather Friday after Drewmania won his first career race by three lengths last out over a muddy five furlongs at Delta Downs on Nov. 15.
That was his third career start having finished ninth behind winner Palm Tree in his first race going six-and-a-half furlongs on the unique turf at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7. He sprinted to a four-length lead early in his debut and led at the top of the stretch but faded when negotiating the long run to the finish.
Briley took the son of Journeyman Stud stallion St Patrick’s Day to Delta Downs for his second race but Drewmania again dropped back to finish sixth after leading during the first three points of call going seven furlongs in a maiden special weight.
Drewmania is out of Cowgirl Lass, by The Big Beast, was bred by Holley Rice and has earned $22,000.
John Court will ride Drewmania from post eight.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle Valentine Candy and Bye Bye Liam for the Advent.
Owned by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Valentine Candy exits a third-place finish behind winner Glengarry in the $169,000 Bowman Mill going six furlongs at Keeneland on Oct. 28. The son of Justify broke his maiden at Saratoga in July but finished ninth in the Grade 1 Hopeful won by Nutella Fella going seven furlongs at Saratoga in his next start.
In one start before the Bowman Mill, Valentine Candy was second to Normandy Hero in a first level, $100,000 optional claiming going six furlongs at Keeneland on Oct. 7.
Ramon Vasquez will ride Valentine Candy, who has $99,675 in career earning, from post 10.
Bye Bye Liam just won a maiden special weight over a sloppy six furlongs at Churchill Downs on Oct. 29 in his second start.
The son of Bolt d’Oro will be ridden from post 11 by Keith Asmussen.
Also look for Molly’s Town, a winner of his first four starts at Horseshoe Indiana including the $102,000 Circle City at six furlongs on Sept. 6 and the $103,000 Indiana Futurity going a mile-and-70-yards on Oct. 4, both against Indiana-breds. In one start since, he was fourth in the $222,000 Ed Brown won by Just Steel going six-and-a-half furlongs at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25.
Molly’s Town is by Mo Town and has earned $168,959 in five races for owner Southwest Racing Stables Inc.
Trainer Genaro Garcia has given the riding assignment on Molly’s Town to Emmanuel Esquivel and they will break from post four.
Also entered for the Advent are Spirit’s Mischief with Gerardo Corrales, Frost Free and jockey Chel-c Bailey, Cristian Torres has the mount on Market Street, Ceepeegee will have Rafael Bejarano aboard, Martin Chuan takes the reins on Sweet Soddy J, Andy’s Candy will be ridden by Chris Landeros, General Shipman has jockey Francisco Arrieta and Nik Juarez has the call on Willy D’s.
