2025.01.04 Oaklawn Racing Update

Compiled by Robert Yates

When he runs, he’s good. The problem for Bishops Bay is he hasn’t run often.

“Nothing major,” trainer Brad Cox said, when asked about the horse’s physical history. “A lot of small things. No surgeries or anything along the way.”

Armed with only five lifetime starts, Bishops Bay makes his 5-year-old debut in Sunday’s fifth race at Oaklawn, a $131,000 allowance for older horses at 1 1/16 miles.

Bishops Bay, despite his abbreviated resume, is the 7-5 program favorite for Cox and a large ownership group that includes prominent Arkansas automobile dealer Steve Landers.

Bishops Bay returned from a 16 ½-month layoff to win his last start, a conditioned allowance at 1 mile and 70 yards Nov. 11 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The two-length victory generated an eye-catching 93 Beyer Speed Figure. Bishops Bay owns four 90-plus Beyers, including a career-high 97 when he was beaten a head by Arcangelo in the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles in May 2023 at Belmont Park.

Arcangelo returned to win the Belmont Stakes – the final leg of the Triple Crown – and the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) en route to an Eclipse Award as the country’s champion 3-year-old male. Bishops Bay was the Peter Pan favorite.

“He’s cut out to be a very good horse,” Cox said. “He’s been a very good horse in the afternoons and stuff. It’s been challenging at times to get him there.”

Bishops Bay, a son of the recently deceased champion Uncle Mo, won his first two career starts in early 2023 at the Fair Grounds. After finishing second in the Peter Pan, Bishops Bay finished second behind Two Phil’s in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) for 3-year-olds before a lengthy break. The 1 1/8-mile Ohio Derby was in June 2023 at Thistledown.

“He had a good return race, good figures and looking to take another step forward on Sunday,” Cox said.

Regular rider Florent Geroux is named to ride Bishops Bay from post 5. Purchased for $450,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Bishops Bay has a 3-2-0 mark and earnings of $234,200.

Probable post time for the fifth race is 2:25 p.m. (Central).

Back to Work

Just Steel, the 2023 Arkansas Derby runner-up, moved closer to his comeback race by working five furlongs from the gate Saturday morning at Oaklawn. Just Steel was timed in 1:00.40 over a fast track.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Friday morning that he’s targeting a late January return for Just Steel, unraced since finishing fifth in last May’s Preakness. Just Steel exited the second leg of the Triple Crown with a fracture in his right front leg that required surgery and resumed training approximately 90 days ago, Lukas said.

“I want to get two, maybe three more works in him,” Lukas said. “I don’t know that I need them, though. Geeze, he’s rolling around there like King Kong.”

Just Steel returned to the work tab Dec. 21 at Oaklawn, covering 3 furlongs in :38. He worked a half-mile in :52.60 Dec. 29 at Oaklawn.

Just Steel was the only horse to go through Oaklawn’s four-race series of Kentucky Derby qualifying races at the 2023-2024 meeting, finishing second in the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, second in the $800,000 Southwest Stakes (G3), seventh in the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) and second in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1).

Just Steel finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby.

Z 4-year-old by 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, Just Stell has a 2-4-1 record from 13 lifetime starts and earnings of $784,545.

Other noteworthy workers Saturday morning at Oaklawn included Speed King, who went a half-mile in :48.60 for trainer Ron Moquett, and Quietside, who covered five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer John Ortiz. Speed King is pointing for the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds. Quietside is headed to the $300,000 Martha Washington Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Both 1 1/16-mile races are Jan. 25 at Oaklawn.