Oaklawn Park

Saturday's Insights: Strong Mandate 'Rising Star' Returns at Oaklawn

7th-OP, $61K, Alw, NW1X, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 5:06 p.m. ET Maryanorginger (Strong Mandate) makes her first start since debuting with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance after stumbling at the start in the Astoria S. at Belmont Park last June. The second-place finisher that day Perfect Alibi (Sky Mesa) followed up with victories in Saratoga's GII Adirondack S. and GI Spinaway S., respectively. The Gold Square colorbearer, a $190,000 FTKJUL yearling purchase, is trained by Jeremiah Englehart. TJCIS PPs 11th-GP, $46K, OC 75k/N1X, 3yo, 7f, 5:52 p.m. ET I'll Fight Dempsey...

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Lukas Takes Over Training of Come Dancing

Grade I winner Come Dancing (Malibu Moon), who has been staying in the D. Wayne Lukas barn after being shipped from Carlos Martin's outfit in New York, will remain with Lukas as she targets the Apr. 18 GI Apple Blossom H. for her seasonal debut. "Carlos Martin sent her in in beautiful shape, so my job is to keep her happy and move her forward," Lukas told the Oaklawn notes team. Lukas said fellow trainer Dale Romans suggested Martin, grandson of the late Hall of Fame trainer, Frank "Pancho" Martin,...

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Oaklawn Moves Arkansas Derby to May 2

Oaklawn has announced that it is moving its signature race--the GI Arkansas Derby--from Saturday, Apr. 11 to Saturday, May 2, closing day of the 2020 live meet. Due to the closing of the casino and racetrack to the public, Oaklawn could have raced with purses intact through Apr. 18, but, upon discussions with the HBPA, decided instead to reduce purses across the board and "stay until May." As a result, the Arkansas Derby purse will be reduced to $750,000. "Churchill Downs understands the circumstances created by the current health crisis,...

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On a Day of Turmoil for Sport, NYRA, Oaklawn, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Announce Show Will Go On

On a day when racetracks around the world, including Keeneland, announced they would be shutting their doors due to the COVID-19 outbreak, NYRA, Oaklawn, Gulfstream and the Fair Grounds announced their intentions to continue racing. The decision by NYRA may have been the most surprising among the three as it came just hours after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a ban of gatherings of 50 people or more and that restaurants, bars, movie theaters and casinos must shut down. Aqueduct's next scheduled day of live racing is Friday. As...

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Coronavirus Update: Mar. 16

As the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic continues to wreak its havoc on society at large, racing and racing-related operations continue to be impacted. Oaklawn Park announced late Sunday that the adjoining casino will be closed for a period of two weeks beginning Monday with the announcement that two people in Garland County have tested positive for the virus. Operations will be suspended through Mar. 30 in the casino, the Silks Bar & Grill, Bistro 2075 and the sports book. The track is committed to holding racing without spectators. Gulfstream Park announced...

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Brisnet.com Triple Crown Throwdown: Rebel & Jeff Ruby

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins. DeRosa - Last Week's Results - Honor A. P. (+200) was second-best in the San Felipe. Necker Island (Gotham) and Letmeno (Tampa Bay Derby) failed to fire. Bankroll: $1395. GII Rebel S. - The Rebel is as compelling...

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Nadal Tries to Hold Serve in Salty Rebel

Bob Baffert sends out so many impressive 3-year-olds this time of year, it seems like some become forgotten as soon as the next one does something special. After the dazzling performances of Baffert trainees Authentic (Into Mischief) and Charlatan (Speightstown) in recent weeks, that forgotten horse may be the barn's unbeaten Nadal (Blame). Saturday, the $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream buy will look to match his talented stablemates as a likely favorite while making his two-turn debut in the $1-million GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn. Debuting as a 6-5 favorite Jan. 19...

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Street Band Can Turn Tables in Azeri

The first four home from the Jan. 26 GIII Houston Ladies' Classic square off yet again in Saturday's GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn Park, and, having drawn widest of the sextet in Texas last time, Street Band (Istan) gets pole position here as she looks to make amends. Third in last year's GI Alabama S. over a 10-furlong trip that potentially stretched her stamina, the chestnut got a perfect set-up in the GI Cotillion S. and blew past 'TDN Rising Star' Guarana (Ghostzapper) to score by 2 1/4 lengths. Eighth...

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Fast Anna Filly Goes Two for Two at Oaklawn

8th-Oaklawn, $90,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 3-8, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.52, ft. LEXI ON THE MOVE (f, 3, Fast Anna--Invalida, by Street Cry {Ire}) took a track-and-trip event restricted to fillies who had previously sold at auction for $60,000 or less by daylight here Feb. 15, and was backed early and often in this tougher spot to go off at even-money. Away on top, the bay sat perched three wide behind a dueling trio through an opening quarter of :21.94. She ranged up ominously after a :45.30 half, and kicked...

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Undefeated Filly Tough in Honeybee

Undefeated Ring Leader (Paynter) looks to add another notch to her belt with a win in Saturday's 8 1/2-furlong GIII Honeybee S. at Oaklawn. A front-running debut winner going five furlongs at Canterbury last June, the Novogratz Racing Stables runner spent the the remainder of the season on the sidelines before returning with a muddy 5 1/4-length win while trying six panels in an Oaklawn optional claimer Jan. 24. Trying stakes company for the first time in the Feb. 15 Dixie Belle S. over that track and trip, she came...

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Bullet Move for Three Technique Before Rebel

Smarty Jones S. runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Three Technique (Mr Speaker) registered a half-mile bullet of :46 (1/119) Saturday morning at Oaklawn in preparation for the GII Rebel S., galloping out in :59.20. Marquel Lemon was aboard Three Technique just after the renovation break for trainer Jeremiah Englehart. The sophomore went in company with Belmont's 2019 Gold Fever S. winner Wendell Fong (Flat Out). "I wanted him to be a little bit sharper," said Englehart. "It kind of surprised me how well they looked and how sharp they worked....

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Oaklawn Announces Purse Increase

Beginning with Saturday's race card, Oaklawn Park will increase purses up to $4,000 for all overnight races. "This is only possible because of the tremendous support we continue to receive from our horsemen and fans," said Oaklawn President Louis Cella. "We promised a New Level of Racing at the beginning of the season and we are delivering. Our field sizes (9.5 avg.) are among the highest in nation, we have horsemen participating from both coasts as well as the Midwest, and the fans are responding. We could not be more...

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