2026.07.14 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, July 14, 2026

It doesn’t carry the significance of 2024, but trainer Kenny McPeek is back in the Oaks-Derby double business.

An Oaklawn regular, McPeek swept Saturday’s $200,000 G3-Indiana Oaks for 3-year-old fillies and the $250,000 Iowa Derby for 3-year-olds with Oaklawn-raced Maximum Offer and J J Grey, respectively.

Maximum Offer ($13) was a front-running 2 ½-length winner of the Indiana Oaks at Horseshoe Indianapolis. About four hours later at Prairie Meadows, J J Grey ($5) was a front-running 1 ¾-length winner of the Iowa Derby. Both 1 1/16-mile races were run over a fast track.

The victories came a little more than two years after McPeek became the first trainer since Ben Jones in 1952 to sweep the G1-Kentucky Oaks and G1-Kentucky Derby in the same year. Those races were at Churchill Downs. McPeek won the Kentucky Oaks with Oaklawn stakes winner Thorpedo Anna and the Kentucky Derby the following day with Oaklawn stakes winner Mystik Dan.

Maximum Offer made two starts this year at Oaklawn. She broke her maiden at one mile Jan. 4 to become the first Oaklawn winner for her sire, millionaire multiple Grade 1 winner Maxfield. Maximum Offer also ran a close fourth in the $300,000 Martha Washington Stakes Feb. 6. The 1 1/16-mile Martha Washington was Oaklawn’s first of three qualifying races for the Kentucky Oaks, the country’s biggest prize for 3-year-old fillies.

Ridden for the first time Saturday by Luis Saez, Maximum Offer covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.65. Maximum Offer was exiting a fifth-place finish behind multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Counting Stars in the 1 1/8-mile Acorn Stakes (G1) June 5 at Saratoga.

Maximum Offer’s first career stakes victory, and third win in eight starts overall, raised her earnings to $311,097.

J J Grey stretched his winning streak to three in the Iowa Derby. After a powerful five-length allowance victory at 1 1/16 miles May 2 at Oaklawn, J J Grey captured the Prairie Mile, a major local prep for the Iowa Derby, June 13 by 3 ¾ lengths.

J J Grey’s winning time Saturday under Emmanuel Esquivel was 1:43.17. Oaklawn-raced Maximum Effort finished third.

J J Grey’s second career stakes victory, and fifth in 10 starts overall, raised his earnings to $346,988.

McPeek won 18 races to finish seventh in the 2025-2026 Oaklawn standings.

Finish Lines

Heavily favored Navajo Warrior ($5.20), a Dec. 28 starter-allowance winner at Oaklawn, captured the nine-furlong $300,000 G3-Cornhusker Handicap for 3-year-old and up Saturday at Prairie Meadows. … Favored multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Booth ($6.60) captured the $100,000 Iowa Sprint Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs Saturday at Prairie Meadows. Booth eclipsed $1 million in career earnings with the victory for all-time Oaklawn leading trainer Steve Asmussen. … Millionaire Oaklawn allowance winner Bendoog ($5.40) captured the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 mile and 70 yards Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Gould’s Gold and Oaklawn allowance winner First Division finished second and third, respectively. … Heavily favored Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Modo ($2.20) won the $75,000 Valor Farm Stakes for Texas-bred fillies and mares Saturday at Lone Star Park. … Oaklawn stakes winner Goodall finished second in the $225,000 G3-Victory Ride Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs Friday at Saratoga. … Oaklawn stakes winner Zeitlos finished second in the $250,000 G2-Caress Stakes for older fillies and mares at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf Saturday at Saratoga. … Oaklawn-raced Queen Azteca and Popperina finished second and third, respectively, in the $100,000 Iowa Distaff Stakes Friday at Prairie Meadows. … Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Out of the Woods finished third in the $300,000 G3-Indiana Derby Saturday. … Oaklawn allowance winner Knickleandime finished third in the $225,000 Iowa Oaks Friday.