Oaklawn Park

Ring Leader maintained her perfect record with a score over favored 'TDN Rising Star' Specially in the Listed Dixie Belle S. at Oaklawn Saturday evening. Second choice on the board, the bay, who broke her maiden at first asking at Canterbury Park in June and returned Jan. 24 to romp by 5 1/4 lengths in the mud locally, tracked from third behind an opening split of :22.48. She challenged three deep on the far turn and went on with it, turning into the home straight with all of the momentum....

Old Chapel Farm has built a reputation over the last few years as a boutique weanling-to-yearling pinhooking operation, but owner Andrew Motion decided to look for a more diversified investment and took advantage of the opportunity of his daughter Mary's trip to last month's Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. "My dad has been pinhooking, but now it's just crazy money,"  Mary Motion explained. "He has a broodmare background, so we thought we would get more of a long-term investment out of the mares. I originally went down to...

TARAZ (f, 3, Into Mischief--Silk Route, by Empire Maker) Oaklawn, 2-1, Martha Washington S., 1m, 1:38.64. The unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' and Oaklawn winner owes her name to a smart historical/geographical connection. The 3-year-old is out of the mare Silk Route. The 2000-year-old city of Taraz (now in Kazakhstan) was a major trade center in the inland regions of the Silk Route, which was a series of ancient trade networks that connected China and the Far East with countries in Europe and the Middle East. Sharp, sophisticated name. An Italian...

Taraz earned the 'TDN Rising Star' moniker after romping by 7 1/2 lengths in her Churchill Downs unveiling Nov. 14 and made good on that initial promise with an 11 1/4-length tour de force in the Letellier Memorial S. in the slop at the Fair Grounds Dec. 21. Heavily favored to continue her hot streak in this sophomore bow, the Juddmonte homebred went straight to the front, cruising through early splits of :23.44 and :47.50. Still just cantering along as she turned for home in front, Taraz sauntered home to...

Oaklawn Park, which opened last Friday, posted strong opening week handle and attendance numbers, including record opening day and January handle. Estimated total attendance for the first three racing dates (Jan. 24-26) was 57,500, a 3.6% increase over the corresponding period last year. Total off-track handle of $12,787,682.84 increased 13.1%. Total all sources handle of $15,400,631.44 represented a 7.7% increase. Opening day all-sources handle $5,789,986.10 and off-track handle $4,759,768 were both Oaklawn records, as was the January off-track record of $4,629,703.63 set last year. "What a great weekend to start...

Gold Street earned 10 points towards the GI Kentucky Derby Friday with a front-running score in Oaklawn's Smarty Jones S. Let go at 10-1 in this first try beyond six furlongs, the $150,000 KEESEP buy went straight to the lead under Martin Garcia and loped along through splits of :24.08 and :48.96 with Lynn's Map (Liam's Map) glued to his outside hip. That rival called it quits on the backstretch and 'TDN Rising Stars' Three Technique and Shoplifted ranged up to challenge entering the turn. However, Gold Street still had...

Four colts from the Steve Asmussen barn, three of which have big chances, give the Hall of Fame trainer a strong hand in Friday's Smarty Jones S., the opening-day feature at Oaklawn Park. The two-turn, one-mile test is the first of a four-race GI Kentucky Derby prep series at the Hot Springs oval and promises 10 Derby qualifying points to the winner. Given a slight nod on the morning line at 5-2 is Ed and Susie Orr's Silver Prospector (Declaration of War). Failing to make an impact in three turf...

Mark Valeski (Proud Citizen--Pocho's Dream Girl, by Fortunate Prospect) will relocate from Central Kentucky's Airdrie Stud to Lake Hamilton Equine in Royal, Arkansas. The deal was brokered by trainer Cody Autrey's Autrey Bloodstock. Mark Valeski retired with earnings of more than $658,000 for trainer Larry Jones and owner/breeder Brereton C. Jones. His signature wins came in Belmont's GII Peter Pan S. and the GIII Mineshaft H. at Fair Grounds. Mark Valeski initially retired to Woodford Thoroughbreds in Reddick, Florida as a partnership between Woodford and Airdrie Stud. Both parties retain...

Oaklawn Park has announced significant purse increases to a number of its 2020 stakes as the Arkansas oval will for the second year host a meet that stretches into May. Four stakes at meet, which runs from Jan. 24 to May 2, will feature $1-million purses: the Mar 14 GII Rebel S., Apr. 11 GI Arkansas Derby, Apr. 18 GI Oaklawn H. and Apr. 18 GI Apple Blossom H. Both the Oaklawn H. and Apple Blossom have been pushed back on the calendar and given $250,000 purse bumps. The purse...