2026.05.26 Oaklawn Racing Update

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing

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

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Two starts in blinkers, two front-running blowout victories.

Justifying his 1-5 favoritism, Desert Gate cruised to a 6 ¼-length score in the $300,000 Texas Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles Monday at Lone Star Park for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and nationally prominent owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.

Desert Gate, who was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., was making his first start since a 9 ¾-length victory in the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes for 3-year-olds March 26 at Oaklawn. The one-mile race marked Desert Gate’s first start in blinkers.

Desert Gate ($2.40) led a 1-2-3 finish for Oaklawn-raced runners in the Texas Derby, which drew a field of six. Chad Allan was second, a nose ahead of Maximum Effort, a now seven-race maiden for all-time Oaklawn leading trainer Steve Asmussen. The winning time over a fast track was 1:44.53.

Chad Allan was exiting a runner-up finish, beaten a half-length, in the $200,000 Bathhouse Row Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles April 18 at Oaklawn. Maximum Effort was making his stakes debut after finishing third as the favorite in a 1 1/16-mile maiden allowance race May 1 at Oaklawn.

Desert Gate, a son of 2019 Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach, raised his career earnings to $549,300 following his fourth victory from seven starts. Desert Gate was one of the country’s top 2-year-olds after winning the Best Pal Stakes (G3) and finishing second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and American Pharoah Stakes (G1). The Hot Springs was his first start outside California.

The Texas Derby was one of six stakes races Monday at Lone Star Park. In other results, Oaklawn debut winner Heroic Move ($13.60) and Oaklawn-raced Neoequos were 1-2, respectively, in the Steve Sexton Mile (G3) for 3-year-olds and up; millionaire Oaklawn winner Surveillance ($13) edged Oaklawn-raced Let’s Go Mark to win the off-the-turf Chamberlain Bridge for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs; and multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Booth finished third in the Speightstown Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

Stainless Steel

Forged Steel backed up a recent allowance victory at Oaklawn with a runaway victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G2) Monday at Santa Anita for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and co-owner C2 Racing Stable.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Forged Steel ($8.20) won the Hollywood Gold Cup by 9 ½ front-running lengths. The 1 ¼-mile race for 3-year-olds and up had five starters.

Forged Steel was exiting a one-length victory in a $136,000 allowance race May 2 at Oaklawn, when the 4-year-old son of Vekoma covered a mile in a sharp 1:35.81. Forged Steel, in his previous start, ran third in the $200,000 Temperence Hill Stakes for older horses at 1 ½ miles March 28 at Oaklawn.

Joseph and C2 Racing (brothers Mark and Clint Cornett) also campaign 2026 Oaklawn stakes winners White Abarrio and Haulin Ice.

Finish Lines

Oaklawn stakes winners Zeitlos and Foie Gras finished second and third, respectively, in the six-furlong Winning Colors Stakes (G3) Monday at Churchill Downs. … Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen recorded his 1,000th career victory at Churchill Downs when Washton ($6.72) won her career debut in Friday’s second race, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Washton was ridden by Asmussen’s oldest son, Keith Asmussen. Steve Asmussen’s 1,000th career Oaklawn victory came Dec. 28 with Duke of Duval, who was ridden by the trainer’s youngest son, Erik Asmussen. Steve Asmussen is the all-time winningest trainer at Oaklawn and Churchill Downs. … Keith Asmussen also won Saturday’s second race at Churchill Downs aboard Arkansas-bred Q’s Your Mama ($9.96) for trainer Cameron Milligan. Q’s Your Mama was the first career starter at Churchill Downs for Milligan, the nephew of 2009 Oaklawn training champion Allen Milligan. Cameron Milligan notched his first career victory Jan. 24, 2025, at Oaklawn and won four races this season in Hot Springs, the last coming April 30 with the Asmussen-ridden Q’s Your Mama. … Jockey H. Luke Hoskins, who made his riding debut aboard Onyx Outlaw for co-owner/trainer John Ortiz May 2 at Oaklawn, is scheduled to ride the gelding in Thursday’s eighth race at Belterra Park. Hoskins finished 10th aboard Onyx Outlaw and was sixth with his only other mount to date, that coming May 2 at Oaklawn. Hoskins is an exercise rider for Ortiz.