2025.10.22 Oaklawn Racing Upates

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025

Eight Oaklawn-raced horses, including 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, are pre-entered in the 42nd annual Breeders’ Cup World Championships Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar in suburban San Diego.

All Oaklawn-raced horses will run Nov. 1 because Day 1 of the Breeders’ Cup is exclusively for 2-year-olds. Pre-entries were announced Wednesday, with post positions for the 14 Breeders’ Cup races to be drawn Monday.

Mystik Dan is among 13 horses pre-entered in the $1 million G1-Dirt Mile. Trained by Kenny McPeek, Mystik Dan was a runaway winner of the $800,000 G3-Southwest Stakes in 2024 at Oaklawn before finishing third in its $1.5 million G1-Arkansas Derby (G1). Mystik Dan won the Kentucky Derby in his next start. Mystik Dan raced once this season at Oaklawn, finishing second, beaten a nose, in the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes May 3.

The Dirt Mile also attracted Oaklawn-raced Patriot Spirit and Will Take It. Patriot Sprint’s first preference is the $2 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Patriot Spirit finished second in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes Jan. 25 at Oaklawn. Will Take It, as a maiden, finished ninth in the 2024 Arkansas Derby (G1). He broke his maiden at Oaklawn in his next start.

In addition to Patriot Spirit, the Sprint drew multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Banishing. Banishing starred at the 2024-2025 Oaklawn meeting, winning the inaugural $145,000 Byerley Turk Overnight Stakes and the $500,000 G3-Oaklawn Mile, and finishing second in the $1.25 million G2-Oaklawn Handicap.

Oaklawn stakes winner Majestic Oops is pre-entered in the $2 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Her second preference is the $1 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Majestic Oops won the $200,000 Dig A Diamond Stakes April 26 at Oaklawn.

Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Haulin Ice, 2024 Oaklawn stakes winner Zeitlos and Oaklawn-raced Praying are also pre-entered in the Filly & Mare Sprint.

Earlier this year at Oaklawn, Arkansas-bred standout Haulin Ice, won the $150,000 Downthedustyroad Stakes and whipped open company in the $250,000 Matron Stakes.

Zeitlos won the $150,000 Carousel Stakes in 2024 at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Asmussen is Oaklawn’s all-time leading trainer.

Finish Lines

Oaklawn’s stable area opens Thursday, with the track opening for training Oct. 28 in advance of its 2025-2026 meeting. The 64-day split season is scheduled to run Dec. 12-May 2. … Jockey Danilo Grisales Rave recorded his first career Keeneland victory in the first race Oct. 16 aboard Wrong Turn ($91.86) for trainer John Ortiz, an Oaklawn regular. Grisales Rave’s first career Oaklawn victory was aboard Fly Like the Wind ($21.80) May 1 at Oaklawn for Ortiz. Wrong Turn represented the 13th career North American victory for Grisales Rave and the 397th for Ortiz, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Ortiz has 110 career victories at Oaklawn. … Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Haulin Ice was an $875,000 buy back at Fasig-Tipton’s digital Fall Flash Sale. Although the six-day sale ended Oct. 16, Haulin Ice remains available for purchase. The asking price is $900,000. The 4-year-old filly is the leading accredited Arkansas-bred money winner in history ($958,650). She is being offered as a racing/broodmare prospect. Haulin Ice is pre-entered in the $1 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 1 at Del Mar.