‘Nation Is in a Slump

After winning five of his first six starts, Choctaw Nation has been slumping since the beginning of 2005.

The 6-year-old Louis Quatorze gelding has won once in his last eight starts, but will drop out of a series of graded stakes in hopes of ending his slump in today’s seventh race at Santa Anita.

Now owned by Marlon Aronstam, Choctaw Nation remains in the barn of trainer Jeff Mullins and returns to the main track after finishing seventh of nine in his turf debut in the San Gabriel Handicap on Jan. 1.

Victor Espinoza, who has been aboard the former claimer for most of his wins, has the call this afternoon in the $65,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles. If Choctaw Nation, who is the 7-5 favorite on Jeff Tufts’ morning line, is successful, it will give him four wins in six starts on the Santa Anita main track.

Race of the day: Church Service, who broke his maiden at first asking on the turf last Aug. 5 at Saratoga, will make his first start of 2006 in today’s 10th at Gulfstream Park. Javier Castellano will ride the 3-year-old Pulpit gelding, who hasn’t raced since finishing second in the Pilgrim last Oct. 23 at Belmont Park, in the $33,000 allowance at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.

One for the road: Strikeuptheblues makes his debut after solid drills and should come out running in today’s fourth at Aqueduct. Trainer Tom Bush hits regularly with new shooters and the Take Me Out gelding gets Norberto Arroyo Jr. in the $41,000 maiden affair for New York-breds at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Spoiler in the first, Ole Cheryl, Go Bye Bye and Impressive Flight in the second and Feel The Heat, Stormin Lucy and Sandy Sneakers in the third.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 3/94. Money: (previous day/meet total): $14.40/$605. Total money bet: $562.