2025.04.06 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Press Release
Compiled by Robert Yates

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna is among seven older fillies and mares entered in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) Saturday at Oaklawn.

The 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom headlines a 12-race card that begins at 12:20 p.m. (Central). Probable post time for the Apple Blossom, the 11th race, is 5:48 p.m.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Thorpedo Anna launched her 2025 campaign with a front-running 3 ½-length victory over Free Like a Girl in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles March 8 at Oaklawn. The Azeri was the final major local prep for the Apple Blossom, among the country’s biggest two-turn events for older females.

The Azeri was Thorpedo Anna’s ninth victory from 11 lifetime starts and raised her earnings to $4,083,663. Thorpedo Anna is scheduled to break from post 6 under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. and carry top weight of 124 pounds.

Free Like a Girl also returns for the Apple Blossom after finishing third in last year’s running. Free Like a Girl, co-owned and trained by Chasey Deville Pomier, is the leading accredited Louisiana-bred money winner in history ($2,253,438).

Saturday’s card also features the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older horses at six furlongs.

Booth, a two-time stakes winner this season at Oaklawn, drew post 3 for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who is seeking his fourth consecutive Count Fleet victory and record-extending seventh overall. Booth is scheduled to break from post 3 under Erik Asmussen and carry top weight of 123 pounds. Seven horses are entered in the Count Fleet, which is the eighth race.

Caldera to Bathhouse Row

MyRacehorse’s Caldera is pointing for Oaklawn’s nine-furlong $200,000 Bathhouse Row Stakes April 19 at Oaklawn, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Sunday morning.

Lukas was originally pointing Caldera to the rescheduled $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles Tuesday at Keeneland in an attempt to qualify the gray Liam’s Map colt for the Kentucky Derby May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Caldera, in his last start, was unable to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby after finishing a troubled eighth in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) March 22 at Fair Grounds.

“I thought that maybe we could get in a better position after the Louisiana race, but that didn’t work out,” Lukas said. “I think we’re going to look at the first week at Churchill, something Preakness week like the Sir Barton or maybe the Preakness itself. If he shows up, we could do the Preakness.”

The Bathhouse Row winner, if Triple Crown nominated, receives automatic entry into the Preakness – the second leg of the Triple Crown – May 17 at Pimlico. Lukas and MyRacehorse teamed to the win 2024 Preakness with Seize the Grey, a gray son of Arrogate who opened his 3-year-old campaign with an allowance victory at Oaklawn.

Caldera finished with 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, all collected via a runner-up finish in the $400,000 Sunland Park Derby Feb. 16 at Sunland Park. Lukas said he had hoped to get Caldera to the Kentucky Derby because MyRacehorse offers fractional ownership in horses. Following Caldera’s maiden special weight victory Jan. 17 at Oaklawn, Lukas said he believed Caldera had “north of 3,000” owners.

“It would have been a big deal, but management is pretty content going the way we’re going,” Lukas said.

A $500,000 OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training purchase, Caldera has a 1-2-0 record from five lifetime starts and earnings of $184,616. Lukas also did a U-turn with another one of his top 3-year-olds and decided to train American Promise up to the Kentucky Derby. American Promise had been ticketed for the $400,000 Lexington Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Keeneland.

American Promise secured a Kentucky Derby spot in his last start, a 7 ¾-length victory in the $500,000 Virginia Derby March 15 at Colonial Downs. Ridden by Oaklawn regular Nik Juarez, American Promise set a track record for 1 1/8 miles (1:46.41).

“He’s maturing and doing so well that I think I can train him without subjecting him to another race,” Lukas said. “You never know how that race is going to go. You think it’s going to move him forward, but it isn’t a cinch. There are things that can happen. So, I got to thinking about it. I think I’m going to just train him straight into it.”

Lukas said Juarez will retain the mount for the Kentucky Derby. Juarez has never ridden in the Kentucky Derby. Lukas said Innovator remains on track for the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (G2) for 3-year-olds May 3 at Churchill Downs. American Promise and Innovator were both maiden special weight winners Dec. 29 at Oaklawn – its third annual card exclusively for 2-year-olds.

Seize the Grey won the Pat Day Mile and the Preakness in his next start.