2025.02.15 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Compiled by Robert Yates —-

Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025

The Oaklawn racing department Saturday morning listed 11 horses under consideration for the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) Feb. 22, including winners of Oaklawn’s first two Kentucky Derby qualifying races.

Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Sunday for the 1 1/16-mile Rebel and five other stakes races Feb. 22 at Oaklawn, including the $500,000 Honeybee (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles and the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) for older horses at 1 1/16 miles.

The Rebel will offer 105 total points (50-25-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishers toward Kentucky Derby starting eligibility. The Rebel is Oaklawn’s third of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races, a series that concludes with the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles March 29.

Rebel probables are Admiral Dennis for trainer Brad Cox, Bullard (Michael McCarthy), Coal Battle (Lonnie Briley), Dreaminblue (Randy Morse), Hypnus (Kenny McPeek), Innovator (D. Wayne Lukas), Publisher (Steve Asmussen), Sandman (Mark Casse), Speed King (Ron Moquett), Smoken Wicked (Dallas Stewart) and Tiztastic (Asmussen).

Coal Battle is unbeaten in four career dirt starts, including the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 4 in his last start. The 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones was Oaklawn’s first Kentucky Derby qualifying race.

Speed King was a front-running one-length winner of Oaklawn’s second Kentucky Derby qualifying race, the $1 million Southwest Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 25. Several projected Rebel entrants earned trouble lines in the Southwest, notably runner-up Sandman, who spotted the field several lengths at the start after breaking in a tangle.

Bullard, who has never raced outside California, has won 2 of 3 starts, including the $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at 7 furlongs Nov. 17 at Del Mar. Bullard, by 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, has never raced around two turns.

Cox won the 2024 Rebel with Timberlake.

In addition to the Rebel, Honeybee and Razorback, the Feb. 22 card is also scheduled to include the $150,000 Carousel Stakes for older fillies and mares at 6 furlongs, $145,000 Commodore Overnight Stakes for older horses at 6 furlongs and the $145,000 Trivista Overnight Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

Honeybee probables, according to the Oaklawn racing department, include Five G, Flash Wear, Going Steady, Jenkin, Muhimma, Quickick, Quietside and Take Charge Milady.

The Honeybee, which has a record purse after a $100,000 bump in the offseason, is Oaklawn’s second of three Kentucky Oaks qualifying races. miles. The Honeybee will offer 105 total points (50-25-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility to the Kentucky Oaks, the country’s biggest race for 3-year-old fillies.

Muhimma will be making her 3-year-old debut for Cox after concluding an unbeaten 2-year-old campaign (3 for 3)

with a front-running one-length victory in the $250,000 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles Dec. 7 at Aqueduct. Muhimma collected 10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points for her Demoiselle victory. Muhimma won her first two starts, both sprints at Churchill Downs, by a combined 13 lengths.

Take Charge Milady and Quietside, finished 1-2, respectively, in Oaklawn’s first Kentucky Oaks qualifying race, the $300,000 Martha Washington Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 25.

Arkansas lumberman John Ed Anthony (Shortleaf Stable) bred and owns Quietside and Jenkin, unraced since winning the $175,000 Year’s End Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 1 mile Dec. 29 at Oaklawn.

Quickick was among the nation’s top 2-year-old fillies after finishing second in the $600,000 Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 4 at Keeneland and third in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at 1 1/16 miles Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

The Honeybee will mark the 3-year-old debut for Quickick, who is based at Fair Grounds with trainer Tom Amoss.

Razorback probables, according to the Oaklawn racing department, include Cooke Creek, First Mission, Henro, Just Steel, Red Route One, Seize the Night and Skinner.

The Razorback is a major local prep for the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles April 19.

Finish Lines

Jockey Francisco Arrieta recorded a triple Friday at Oaklawn, winning the sixth race aboard Nepal Up ($15.20) for trainer Dan Ward, seventh race aboard favored Keen Cat ($7.80) for trainer Randy Morse and the 10th race aboard Caliente Star ($19.20) for trainer Tammy Hornsby. … Keen Cat was the second of two winners on the card for Morse, who also won the fourth race with favored Hess ($7). … Eight-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana won two races Friday, pushing his career total in Hot Springs to 778. Santana won the second race aboard favored Cashmeup ($4.60) for trainer Norm Casse and the ninth race aboard Durante ($27.80) for trainer David Jacobson. Santana is the fifth-winningest jockey in Oaklawn history. … Trainer James Butcher moved to 2 for 3 at the meeting with favored A Dollar a Day ($5.80) in the Friday opener.