2025.12.21 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Unbeaten Grade 2 winner Ewing and stakes-winning Strategic Risk are scheduled to arrive Monday at Oaklawn to continue preparations for their 3-year-old campaigns, according to assistant Caden Arthur, who oversees dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse’s Oaklawn division.

Arthur said Sunday morning that Strategic Risk is pointing for the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds Jan. 3. The 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones is Oaklawn’s first of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races. It will offer 21 total points (10-5-3-2-1, respectively) to its top five finishers toward Kentucky Derby starting eligibility.

Both Ewing (2 for 2) and Strategic Risk recorded their most recent workouts at Casse’s training center in Florida.

In his last start, Strategic Risk was a nine-length winner of the restricted Florida Sire In Reality Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Nov. 29 at Gulfstream Park. Ewing, from the first crop of 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go, broke his maiden July 5 at Saratoga, then won its Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) Aug. 2.

Ewing was scheduled to make his two-turn debut in the Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) Oct. 4 at Keeneland, but he was scratched because of a “minor injury,” Casse said.

Ewing’s road to the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) March 28 could begin in a January sprint, Casse said.

Arthur said Casse’s Grade 1 winners Sandman and La Cara returned to the track Sunday morning after recording five-furlong workouts Friday at Oaklawn.

“They looked great,” Arthur said. “La Cara was bucking and kicking.”

Casse said La Cara is targeting the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3), a 1 1/16-mile race for older fillies and mares Feb. 7 at Oaklawn, for her 4-year-old debut. Casse said Sandman’s major spring objective is the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles April 18 at Oaklawn.

Sandman won the 2025 Arkansas Derby (G1). He is unraced since late August.

Rattle N Roll Rolls in Tinsel

Millionaire Grade 1 winner Rattle N Roll received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 101 for his comfortable two-length victory in the $150,000 Tinsel Sakes Saturday at Oaklawn.

Assistant Mike Kleier, who oversees trainer Kenny McPeek’s Oaklawn division, said Sunday morning that Rattle N Roll emerged from his 10th career stakes victory in good shape physically, adding the 6-year-old son of Connect will remain at Oaklawn “for a while.”

“He’s being vaccinated for a trip overseas,” said Kleier, who saddled Rattle N Roll in McPeek’s absence. “He’s walking here until arrangements are made to either go back to the Fair Grounds, or I’m not sure where. My instructions yesterday: ‘Take care of him here.’”

McPeek said immediately after the Tinsel that Rattle N Roll could return to the Middle East – he ran in three races there earlier this year – or be pointed to the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles April 18 at Oaklawn. McPeek said that decision will be made after conferring with co-owners Sharaf Mohamad Alhariri and Mike Mackin (Lucky Seven Stable).

“He may go back to Riyadh, to Saudia Arabia,” McPeek said. “We’re going to discuss it. We’ll do the (stakes) noms there at Oaklawn. He’ll probably migrate back down to the Fair Grounds after this race because he’s trained here a lot. The only flight to get him to Riyadh is through Chicago, so we’ve some logistics there to worry about. We’ll take it as it comes. And it’s not out of the question he stays around for the Oaklawn Handicap, either.”

Favored Saturday at 3-5 under Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario, Rattle N Roll ($3.40) completed 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in a sharp 1:49.76. The late runner carried an equal top weight of 125 pounds.

A Grade 1 winner at 2, Rattle N Roll has earned $3,638,941 off an 11-3-3 record from 30 lifetime starts. The Tinsel marked his first victory since the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G3) last January in Saudi Arabia. Rattle N Roll also finished fifth in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) and eighth in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1).

The Tinsel was Rattle N Roll’s Oaklawn debut.

Finish Lines

After Sunday’s card, racing resumes Friday at Oaklawn. First post for the 10-race card is 12:30 p.m. CST. … Oaklawn will be open for training Thursday (Christmas Day) from 7 a.m.-9 a.m. CST. … Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen won Saturday’s sixth race with Stylish Lady ($12.20), his record-extending 997th career Oaklawn victory. Stylish Lady also represented the first career Oaklawn victory for jockey Johan Rosado, who was previously based in Maryland. … Jockey Cristian Torres recorded a riding triple Saturday, pushing his career Oaklawn total to 293. … Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) runner-up Universe is pointing for the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 3 at Oaklawn, co-owner Steven Crain of Hot Springs said Sunday morning. The 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones is Oaklawn’s first of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races.