2025.11.04 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025

Oaklawn doesn’t have a grass course, but it can still spawn a successful grass runner.

The 3-year-old filly Shisospicy showed that again, dominating males and older horses in a front-running 2 ½-length victory in the $1 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs Saturday at Del Mar.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rode Shisospicy ($12.60) for trainer Jose D’Angelo and co-owners Morplay Racing and Qatar Racing.

Shisospicy has made her last six starts on turf after finishing second as the 2-5 favorite in the $150,000 Mockingbird Stakes Jan. 4 at Oaklawn. The Mockingbird was for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs.

Shisospicy’s winning time over a firm surface was :55.24, just off the course record:54.75 set in 2006 by Fast Parade. The victory, Shisospicy’s fifth in her last six starts, raised her career earnings to $2,090,270. She has a 6-1-1 mark from nine starts overall.

Shisospicy was a $5.2 million buyback by Morplay Racing at Monday night’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale. She was entered as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Shisospicy is by Mitole, a multiple Oaklawn stakes winner and North America’s champion male sprinter of 2019.

Shisospicy was bred by William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, among the most successful owners in Oaklawn history. The Heiligbrodts campaigned Mitole with Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Oaklawn’s all-time leading trainer.

Sacred Wish and Cogburn, another Asmussen/Heiligbrodt collaboration, became Grade 1 winners on turf after a maiden special weight and allowance victory, respectively, in 2023 at Oaklawn.

Sacred Wish, as a racing or broodmare prospect, sold for $2.1 million at Monday night’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

In the House

Officially timed workouts began over a fast track Tuesday morning in advance of Oaklawn’s 64-day split season (Dec. 12-May 2). A total of 45 workouts were timed.

Among prominent trainers with horses on the grounds Monday morning were Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Ron Moquett of Hot Springs, Kenny McPeek, Greg Compton, Norm Casse, Dan Ward, dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse and John Ortiz.

Asmussen enters the 2025-2026 Oaklawn season with a record 993 career victories in Hot Springs.

Finish Lines

Ronnie Huckaby, champion apprentice jockey at the Prairie Meadows meeting that concluded Sept. 27, is getting on horses at Oaklawn in advance of its 64-day split season that begins Dec. 12. Huckaby, 19, is represented by agent Brian Assmann, who also books mounts for Tyler Bacon, champion apprentice at Prairie Meadows (2024) and Oaklawn (2024-2025). … Agent Cody Autrey said he will continue to represent jockey Ramon Vazquez in 2025-2026 at Oaklawn. Autrey began booking mounts for Vazquez last spring at Lone Star Park, where he topped the standings. Vazquez is the runaway leader at Remington Park, which concludes its meeting Dec. 20. Vazquez has 472 career Oaklawn victories. Autrey also represents two-time Oaklawn riding champion Cristian Torres, who is now based in Kentucky. … Favored Oaklawn stakes winner Bishops Bay ($3.16) moved to eight for 12 overall with a three-quarter length victory in the $175,000 G3-Forty Niner Stakes at one mile Sunday at Aqueduct. … Favored Oaklawn allowance winner Standoutsensation ($2.92) won the $150,000 Turnback the Alarm Stakes for fillies and mares Sunday at Aqueduct. … Oaklawn-raced Common Defense finished second, beaten a nose, in the $250,000 G2-Red Smith Stakes on the turf Sunday at Aqueduct.