Oaklawn Park race results

In theory, we're in the lull between Kentucky Derby and Preakness excitement, but the Belmont Big A meeting will host a chance for a spot in New York's marquee event in June as colts assemble Saturday for the GIII Peter Pan Stakes. Chad Brown is no stranger to jumping a talented maiden winner straight into the graded ranks, and that's what he's doing with Growth Equity (Nyquist) for owner Klaravich Stables. The colt kicked off his career last July in Saratoga with a runner-up effort against a field which yielded...

We knew it was going to be a battle of the big three, and so it was late with White Abarrio (Race Day) pulling rank to claim the GII Oaklawn Handicap over Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief). Understandably and unsurprisingly, the seasonal debuts of both MGISW Sovereignty and MGISW Journalism (Curlin) dominated the front pages in the days leading up to this contest. For many in the editorial community, as it went for the betting public, the best horse in 2025 was the horse to beat here and...

GI Arkansas Derby runner-up Silent Tactic (Tacitus) worked Sunday morning at Oaklawn Park and was joined by a fleet of Kentucky Oaks hopefuls as well with preparations continuing on the march to May. The Mark Casse trainee worked an easy half-mile over a fast track Sunday morning with regular rider Cristian Torres in the irons. Clocking an opening quarter-mile in :24.80, he covered the four furlongs in :49.40 (26/58) before galloping out five panels in 1:02.80 and six in 1:17.60. It was his final local breeze before shipping out to...

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.--Legendary college football coach Mike Leach believed fervently in the power of pirate culture. Despite its cut, thrust and swagger image, according to Leach the swashbucklers of old were incredibly democratic, were forced at times to be surprisingly unconventional and they proved time and time again that taking risks could payoff handsomely--rings true for Thoroughbred racing too. Speaking of plundering and pirate treasure, in the 90th running of the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on Saturday a record 73,000 people watched an invader named Renegade (Into Mischief--Spice...

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.--Trainer Jimmy DiVito celebrated with his longtime clients at Doubledown Stables in the special winner's circle reserved for graded heroes at Oaklawn Park after Nu What's New (Munnings--Heavenly Scat, by Scat Daddy) went gate to wire in the GIII Oaklawn Mile Stakes on Saturday. It was the gelding's first higher-level score. The $300,000 OBS April buy who was picked out by DiVito two years ago at the sale took his time to break his maiden, but when it happened it was in-style over the local strip--by 7 1/2...

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.--To quote the seemingly prim and proper Lady Mary of Downton Abbey fame, "Heavens!" When Counting Stars (Honor A. P.--Paynterbynumbers, by Paynter) was ready to take command up the backstretch, the filly was up to the task at hand and she rolled home a winner in the GII Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn--hence the use of such strong, genteel language. The chilly and overcast weather on Friday evening did nothing to dampen the spirits of owners West Point Thoroughbreds. On the twisty and winding 'Road to the Kentucky Oaks'...

After a career of always showing up for a piece of the pie, it's finally Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) who's the talk of the town, and the statesman strolled home to the roar of an appreciative Oaklawn crowd to confidently win the GIII Essex Handicap. The seven-year-old entire has been exclusively in graded stakes company since early April 2022, when he ran third in the GII Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. He never left the ranks after that, and placed at the highest levels every year since--hitting the board in the 2022 GI...

TAPTASTIC (c, 3, Tapit--Valadorna {GSW & GISP, $670,265}, by Curlin), facing older rivals as the 4-5 favorite in his debut, found running room late to graduate with ease Sunday at Oaklawn. The gray colt was under a hold while racing in tight quarters behind the leaders down the backstretch behind fractions of :23.84 and :48.57. Still waiting for racing room approaching the stretch, Taptastic finally found a narrow opening along the rail and strode to the lead before drawing away to graduate by 1 1/2 lengths over pacesetting Dawn at...

by Christina Bossinakis & Patrycja Szpyra Cherokee Nation (Not This Time) took six starts to break his maiden, but he'd been facing quality rivals in the lead up to his graduation party last Friday. Now, his connections report that elite contests are in the colt's future with their eyes specifically turned toward the GI Santa Anita Derby. "When the kids go to school, they have fancy Friday and [last] Friday was a fancy Friday for us," said co-owner Tom Ryan. "We're typically looking at Saturday afternoon, but we were very...

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.--A strong tradition for any Kentucky Derby hopeful along the campaign trail to May is passing the two turn test. With distance in mind, owners and trainers are looking for their nominees to stretch their legs, embrace the debate that comes in the form of traffic and find ways to grind out a hard-earned victory. At Oaklawn Park in the GII Rebel Stakes on Sunday, WinStar, First Go Racing and CHC Inc. owned colt Class President (Uncle Mo--Top Quality, by Quality Road) proved best at the wire as...

He was green, and a bit lost in the lane, but Fancy Fairlane (McKinzie) showed more than enough talent to put his rivals away and sail home to 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors at Oaklawn Park. Unveiled Dec. 20 at Fair Grounds in a six-furlong maiden special weight, he was run down late thanks in part to a sensational effort by fellow 'Rising Star' Golden Tempo (Curlin) when that one closed from a different zip code to win going away. Clocked producing a final quarter-mile in :23.57 in...

In a well-watched race for the presence of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ewing (Knicks Go), it was Oscar's Hope (Twirling Candy) on his return to sprints who stepped forward to take home the Ozark Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The Tom Amoss-trainee entered this contest off an unsuccessful attempt at two-turns Jan. 3 in the local Smarty Jones Stakes, finishing eighth and off the board for the first time in his six-race career. The runner-up there was Silent Tactic (Tacitus), who returned Feb. 6 at this venue to claim...