2025.09.18 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025

Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Haulin Ice has her second opportunity to become No. 1 in the $200,000 G3-Princess Rooney Invitational for female sprinters Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Probable post time for the Princess Rooney, the 10th of 11 races, is 4:36 p.m. CDT.

Haulin Ice ($843,450) is poised to become the leading accredited Arkansas-bred career money winner in the Princess Rooney, a seven-furlong “Win and You’re In” for the $1 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Nodouble, the country’s two-time champion older horse, completed his racing career in 1970 with a record $846,749.

Haulin Ice would have broken Nodouble’s record with a victory in her last start, the $75,000 Sheer Drama Handicap Aug. 16 at Gulfstream Park, but she finished second as the odds-on favorite. That snapped a four-race winning streak.

Edgard Zayas has the return call on Haulin Ice, who drew post 2 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Oaklawn allowance winner Claret Beret, another Joseph trainee, drew post 8.

Haulin Ice, a speedy 4-year-old gray daughter of millionaire Oaklawn stakes winner Coal Front, has won 9 of 16 starts overall, including Oaklawn’s $150,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes for state-breds March 1 and the $250,000 Matron Stakes March 29. Both races were six furlongs.

After winning the Matron, Haulin Ice collected her first career graded stakes victory in the $175,000 G3-Vagrancy May 4 at Aqueduct and was a front-running 3 ¼-length winner of the $75,000 Musical Romance Handicap June 22 at Gulfstream Park. Both races were 6 ½ furlongs.

Haulin Ice originally raced for her breeder, Arkansan Eugenia Thompson-Benight, and trainer Lindsay Schultz. She made her first five career starts at Oaklawn (all at the 2023-2024 meeting) before being purchased privately in the spring of 2024 and transferred to the Florida-based Joseph.

Haulin Ice won three races for Schultz at the 2023-2024 Oaklawn meeting and has a 6-2-0 record in eight lifetime starts in Hot Springs, with earnings of $612,050. Haulin Ice races for C2 Racing Stable (brothers Clint and Mark Cornett), Paul Braverman, Miller Racing (Myron Miller) and Timothy Pinch.

In addition to the Matron, Haulin Ice also beat open company at Oaklawn in a December 2024 allowance sprint.

Haulin Ice became the leading accredited Arkansas-bred female money winner in history with her Matron victory and is a five-time stakes winner overall.

Haulin Ice was named the 2024 Arkansas-bred Horse of the Year by the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Horsemen’s Association. Nodouble, the 1968 Arkansas Derby winner and champion older horse in 1969 and 1970, won 13 of 42 lifetime starts.

Finish Lines

Stall applications for Oaklawn’s 2025-2026 season are due Thursday. The stable area opens Oct. 23 and the track opens for training Oct. 28. The 64-day meeting is scheduled to run Dec. 12-May 2. … Oaklawn allowance winner Indy Bay is entered in the $1 million G1-Cotillion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Parx. … Oaklawn maiden winner Gateskeeper is entered in the six-furlong $400,000 G2-Gallant Bob Stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Parx. … Oaklawn-raced Smoken Wicked is the 8-5 program favorite for the $300,000 Harrods Creek Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs Saturday at Churchill Downs. … Oaklawn-raced Dune a Vetta, Hypnus and Extradition are entered in the $250,000 St. Louis Derb Friday at Fairmount Park. … Oaklawn stakes winner Calibrate is entered in the 1 ½-mile $200,000 G3-Greenwood Cup Stakes Saturday at Parx. … Oaklawn allowance winner Decadent and Oaklawn-raced Flash Wear and Quickick are entered in the $175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs. … Oaklawn stakes winner The Wine Steward and Oaklawn-raced Tapit Shoes are entered in the $150,000 Presque Isle Mile Stakes Friday at Presque Isle. … Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner G W’s Girl is entered in the $100,000 Weather Vane Stakes Saturday at Laurel.