2026.08.20 Oaklawn Racing Update

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing

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

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026

Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Counting Stars can move closer to a championship Saturday at Saratoga in the $600,000 G1-Alabama Stakes, a prestigious 1 ¼-mile event for 3-year-old fillies.

The Alabama is the 11th of 12 races, with probable post time 5:42 p.m. CDT.

Counting Stars, the 1-2 program favorite, is seeking her third consecutive Grade 1 stakes victory and fourth graded stakes victory this year for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, who was Oaklawn’s third-leading trainer last season.

After winning Oaklawn’s $1 million G2-Fantasy Stakes March 27, Counting Stars finished third in the $1.5 million G1-Kentucky Oaks May 1 at Churchill Downs. Counting Stars moved to the top of the 3-year-old filly division with victories in the $500,000 G1-Acorn Stakes June 5 and the $500,000 G1-Coaching Club American Oaks July 25.

Both 1 1/8-mile races were at Saratoga.

Irad Ortiz Jr. is named to ride Counting Stars from post 6 in the six-horse Alabama field. All starters carry 122 pounds.

Also entered is My Gun’s Loaded (3-1), who will be making her stakes debut for trainer Chad Brown off two sharp victories at Saratoga. My Gun’s Loaded, then with Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, finished eighth in her Dec. 27 career debut at Oaklawn.

Counting Stars has five career stakes victories, including Oaklawn’s $135,000 Astral Spa Dec. 14 and $150,000 Year’s End Dec. 27. She also finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Explora, in the $750,000 G3-Honeybee Stakes March 1 at Oaklawn. Explora was scratched from the Fantasy because of a minor illness, ran fourth in the Kentucky Oaks and won the $500,000 G1-Test Stakes Aug. 8 at Saratoga in her last start.

Pacific Classic

Five recent Oaklawn-raced horses are entered in the $1 million Pacific Classic for 3-year-olds and up Saturday at Del Mar. The 1 ¼-mile Pacific Classic is a “Win and You’re In” for the $7 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Classic Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

The Oaklawn-raced contingent includes Forged Steel (5-1 on the morning line) and Navajo Warrior (8-1) for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Other Oaklawn runners in the field include the filly Om N Joy, and the Argentine-bred duo of Subsanador for trainer Richard Mandella, and Full Serrano for trainer John Sadler.

Forged Steel was a May 2 allowance winner at Oaklawn and captured the G2-Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes May 25 at Santa Anita in his next start. Navajo Warrior has won three consecutive starts, including the G3-Pimlico Special May 15 at Laurel and the G3-Cornhusker Handicap July 11 at Prairie Meadows. He finished third in a Feb. 14 allowance race at Oaklawn after winning a starter allowance race Dec. 28.

Om N Joy will be facing males after finishing fifth in the $1.25 million G1-Apple Blossom Handicap for older fillies and mares April 11 at Oaklawn.

Subsanador finished fourth in the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes May 2 at Oaklawn. Full Serrano hasn’t started since finishing a troubled fourth in the $500,000 G3-Oaklawn Mile for older horses March 28.

Finish Lines

Heavily favored Oaklawn-raced Tap to Open ($2.60) won the $200,000 Cathryn Sophia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 mile and 70 yards Tuesday at Parx. … Multiple Oaklawn winner Western Warrior is the 7-2 program favorite for the $200,0000 G3-Canadian Derby Saturday at Century Mile in Canada. … Oaklawn-raced Evolution is the 3-1 second choice in the program for the $100,000 Century Oaks Saturday at Century Mile. … Oaklawn-raced Reagan’s Flame is entered in the seven-furlong $150,000 G3-Seaway Stakes over the all-weather surface Saturday at Woodbine. … Oaklawn-raced Amalfi Drive is entered in the $100,000 Violet Stakes Saturday at Monmouth Park. … Oaklawn-raced Wildncrazynight is entered in the $75,000 New Jersey Breeders’ Handicap Sunday at Monmouth Park.