2025.01.31 Oaklawn Racing Update

Friday, Jan. 31, 2025

Compiled by Robert Yates

While Sandman is headed to another major Kentucky Derby qualifying race at Oaklawn, plans are more fluid for his lightly raced stablemate, Brodeur, dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said.

Brodeur moved to two-for-three overall with a front-running victory in Sunday’s ninth race at Oaklawn, a $130,000 entry-level allowance for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles that marked his two-turn debut.

Under Isaac Castillo, Brodeur ($5.80) shook 4-5 favorite Handsome Pants late on the second turn and opened a 3 ½-length lead in midstretch. Brodeur outlasted a fast-closing Curvino by a half-length, covering the distance in a 1:48.80 over a sealed, wet-fast surface.

“We’re kind of looking at our different options,” Casse said. “His race was good. I think the racetrack, as it got wet and late in the day, was pretty tiring. He went from going three-quarters to a mile and a sixteenth. He put away a good horse, Kenny McPeek’s horse (Handsome Pants). He had a couple fire at him and he kept going. So, I was proud of him. He was tired. We’re going to give him plenty of time to bounce back, so I don’t know where he’ll go. We’ll see.”

Brodeur, a son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, was exiting a maiden special weight victory at six furlongs Dec. 14 at Oaklawn.

Sandman is scheduled to make his next start in the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) Feb. 22. The 1 1/16-mile Rebel is Oaklawn’s third Kentucky Derby points race.

Sandman collected 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for finishing second in the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Oaklawn.

Finish Lines

Racing was scheduled to resume Thursday at Oaklawn, but the track announced Wednesday afternoon that it was moving the nine-race card, as drawn, to Monday because of potential heavy rain. Training was canceled Thursday. Oaklawn was planning to run Thursday, a normal dark day on its 2024-2025 calendar, to make up one date lost after racing was canceled Jan. 10-12 because of a winter storm. Training and racing resumed Friday. … Oaklawn stewards suspended Tyler Bacon, the meet’s leading apprentice jockey, two racing days (Feb. 8-9) for careless riding in Saturday’s $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds. In a ruling dated Monday, Bacon was cited for allowing his mount, American Promise, “to cross into the path of another horse (Publisher) without sufficient clearance” in midstretch. Following a stewards’ inquiry, American Promise was disqualified from sixth and placed seventh. Having waived his right to an appeal, Bacon had one day stayed and will serve his suspension Feb. 8, according to his agent, Brian Assmann. Bacon has 13 victories and $1,037,781 in purse earnings at the meet. Bacon, 17, rode American Promise for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a major client. … Banishing received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 100 for his 7 ½-length victory in the $145,000 Byerley Turk Overnight Stakes for older horses at six furlongs Jan. 23 at Oaklawn. … Jockey Walter De La Cruz rode two winners Sunday, pushing his career Oaklawn total to 185. De La Cruz won the second race aboard Marshside Mama ($9.60) for trainer Doug Anderson of Hot Springs and the seventh race aboard Pass Line ($6.80) for trainer Cipriano Contreras. De La Cruz has ridden regularly at Oaklawn since 2015 and had 24 victories last season. He has nine victories at the 2024-2025 meeting that began Dec. 6.