2025.01.01 Oaklawn Racing Update

Compiled by Robert Yates

Arkansas lumberman John Ed Anthony moved closer to a pair of milestones with Jenkin’s victory in the one-mile $175,000 Year’s End Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Sunday at Oaklawn.

Jenkin represented the 296th career Oaklawn victory for Anthony, 85, the winningest owner in track history. It also marked his 38th win in a stakes race. The late John Franks holds the Oaklawn record for most career stakes victories by an owner with 39.

Jenkin also provided trainer Lindsay Schultz with her first career Oaklawn stakes victory. Schultz, a former assistant under Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, began training for Anthony’s Shortleaf Stable in early 2023.

“It’s a big deal,” Schultz said. “Obviously, the competition is tough here and the horses are nice, a lot of history. So, it’s a really good place to win and it’s even better to win for Mr. Anthony and Shortleaf.”

The improving Jenkin ($10.60) was assigned a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 77, a career best, for her three-quarter length victory under Francisco Arrieta. The winning time over a muddy, sealed surface was 1:40.12.

Jenkin is perfect in two starts around two turns – she broke her maiden going one mile Dec. 6 at Oaklawn – and her Beyer Speed Figures have climbed from 55 to 72 to 77 in her last three starts.

Jenkin, by 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft, debuted with a third-place finish at 6 ½ furlongs Sept. 26 at Aqueduct, then finished fifth in a seven-furlong maiden special weight sprint Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.

“She’s always worked well,” Schultz said.

Jenkin exited her Year’s End victory in good shape, Schultz said, with next-race plans pending. Shortleaf also bred and owns Quietside, one of the country’s most accomplished 2-year-old fillies of 2024.

Trained by John Ortiz, Quietside is scheduled to make her 3-year-old debut in the $300,000 Martha Washington Stakes Jan. 25. The 1 1/16-miles Martha Washington is Oaklawn’s first of three Kentucky Oaks qualifying races.

Quietside recorded a 5-furlong bullet workout (1:00.40) over a good-rated surface Saturday.

Sunday marked Oaklawn’s third annual card exclusively for 2-year-olds (30 total races). It was the first victory in the format for Schultz and Shortleaf. Jenkin has a 2-0-1 record from four starts and earnings of $180,150.

The origin of Jenkin’s name traces to Mineshaft, said Anthony’s son, Steven, who is a member of the Arkansas Racing Commission.

“A jenkin is a narrow seam of coal,” Steven Anthony said in a text message.

Finish Lines

Racing resumes Friday at Oaklawn. First post is 12:30 p.m. CST. … Saturday’s 10-race program is highlighted by the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. Racing begins at 12:30 p.m., with a probable post time for the Smarty Jones, the ninth race of 4:22 p.m. … Sunday’s redrawn $175,000 Tinsel Stakes for older horses at 1 1/8 miles drew a field of eight, including original entrants Horace Mann, Frosted Departure, millionaire Red Route One and Quality Chic. The Tinsel was originally scheduled to be run last Saturday. But Oaklawn, citing weather (rain, thunder and lightning), canceled the remainder of the card following the first race.