2026.02.18 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing

cho@oaklawn.com, 501-623-4411 ext. 4201

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026

Saffie Joseph Jr. has had only one stakes starter this season at Oaklawn, but the Florida-based trainer plans to be more active over the next two months.

Joseph has Arkansas-bred star Haulin Ice going in Friday’s $150,000 Downthedustyroad for state-bred females, 3 and up, at six furlongs and said millionaire multiple Grade 1 winner White Abarrio is pointing for the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles April 18.

Haulin Ice, a 5-year-old daughter of Coal Front, returns to Oaklawn with an opportunity to make more history.

Haulin Ice ($998,250) is poised to become the first accredited Arkansas-bred to reach $1 million in career earnings. Haulin Ice became the leading accredited Arkansas-bred money winner in history with a victory in the Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) Sept. 20 at Gulfstream Park. Nodouble, the country’s two-time champion older horse, set the previous record ($846,749) in 1970.

“She’s back at her favorite place – Oaklawn,” Joseph said Tuesday afternoon.

Haulin Ice made her first five career starts at Oaklawn for trainer Lindsay Schultz before being privately purchased in the spring of 2024 and sent to Joseph. Haulin Ice has collected six stakes victories for Joseph, including a front-running six-length romp in the 2025 Downthedustyroad.

“It will be nice for her to become the first Arkansas-bred to ever make a million,” Joseph said. “She’s already the highest money earner, but to do that would be great for her resume.”

Joseph said he’s using Friday’s race as a prep for the six-furlong $250,000 Matron Stakes for older fillies and mares March 27 at Oaklawn. Haulin Ice dominated open company in last year’s Matron, rolling to a front-running five-length victory. Haulin Ice has a 6-2-0 record in eight lifetime starts at Oaklawn and bankrolled $612,050.

“She loves Oaklawn,” Joseph said.

White Abarrio has never raced at Oaklawn. He owns four career Grade 1 victories, including the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. White Abarrio, in his 7-year-old debut, finished second behind stablemate Skippylongstocking in the Pegasus World Cup at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park. Skippylongstocking won the 2024 Oaklawn Handicap and was third last year.

“White Abarrio is going to come for the Oaklawn Handicap,” Joseph said. “That’s the plan. Dubai is still in play for Skippy, but we haven’t come up with a plan yet.”

Joseph said Claret Beret is under consideration for the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles April 11 at Oaklawn.

Claret Beret was an allowance winner last season at Oaklawn before being privately purchased and sent to Joseph. Claret Beret was a five-length winner of the 1 1/16-mile Royal Delta Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Five of a Kind

Jockey Ramon Vazquez rode five winners Monday at Oaklawn to match his career high in Hot Springs.

Vazquez won the first race aboard River Wind ($10.40) for trainer Norm Casse, fourth race aboard Systemic Change ($12.40) for trainer Mike Maker, fifth race aboard Cool Under Fire ($19.20) for trainer Ernie Witt II, seventh race aboard Brahms Image ($15) for trainer F. Dewaine Loy and the 10th race aboard favored Gun Runner Charlie ($6.80) for trainer Peter Miller.

Unaware that he had a chance to tie Oaklawn’s single-day record for victories by a jockey, Vazquez finished fifth aboard favored Go Go Ro Ro in the 11th and final race.

“If I had known that, I would have ridden harder,” Vazquez joked moments after the 11th race. “Great day. Thank the Lord for the blessed day. He gave me the opportunity to be here. Thanks to all the trainers and owners for supporting me. And my agent Cody (Autrey), he’s doing a great job. I’m so happy.”

Monday marked Vazquez’s fourth five-win day at Oaklawn. He also rode five winners Jan. 25, 2015, April 9, 2015, and April 19, 2019.

“I was thinking it was going to be a nice day – not an amazing day,” Vazquez said. “I thought I was going to win a couple.”

Vazquez has multiple six-win days in his career. Retired Hall of Famer Pat Day and the late Larry Snyder share the Oaklawn single-day record for victories with six.

The five-bagger pushed Vazquez into second in the rider standings with 24 victories after 21 days of racing and closer to two career milestones. Vazquez enters Thursday with 3,907 career North American victories, including 496 at Oaklawn.

A native of Puerto Rico, Vazquez recorded his first Oaklawn victory in 2012. Vazquez makes Oaklawn, Lone Star Park and Remington Park his year-round circuit. Vazquez has never won an Oaklawn riding title.

Finish Lines

Oaklawn’s Thursday-Sunday racing schedule begins this week. First post Thursday is 12:30 p.m. (Central). … Jet Pack ($8.20) gave trainer H. Ray Ashford Jr. his 999th career North American victory in Monday’s third race. Rafael Bejarano rode Jet Pack for owner Tom Durant. Ashford nearly recorded his 1,000th career victory Tuesday at Will Rogers Downs, but Pontotoc finished second, beaten a half-length, in the third race. Ashford has three horses entered Friday at Sam Houston Race Park, one Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park and one Sunday at Oaklawn, where he is tied for fourth in the standings with eight victories from 32 starts. Jet Pack became the meet’s first three-time winner and was a meet-high sixth victory for Durant in the race for leading owner. … Trainer Genaro Garcia enters Wednesday with 996 career North American victories. Garcia has seven horses entered this week at Oaklawn and seven entered at Turfway Park. … Dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse ($1,979,057) has two horses entered this week at Oaklawn as he tries to become the first trainer at the meet to reach $2 million in purse earnings. … Chel-c Bailey, Oaklawn’s leading apprentice in 2021-2022, finished sixth aboard Mandatory Mission in Monday’s 11th race, the jockey’s first mount of the meeting and 1,000th of her career. Bailey has 72 career victories, including 41 at Oaklawn. Bailey, an exercise rider for trainer Phil D’Amato, said her goal is 100 career riding victories. … Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Saturday for the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds and the $750,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies. Both 1 1/16-mile races are March 1 at Oaklawn.