2025.03.13 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Press Release
Compiled by Robert Yates

Thursday, March 13, 2025

He’s still bringing the “Payne” at age 10.

Payne became the first three-time winner at the 2024-2025 Oaklawn meeting when, after reuniting with his biggest fan, jockey Keith Asmussen, beat older $50,000 claimers by a head on Feb. 24, which was the gelding’s first start for trainer Ingrid Mason and owner Danny Caldwell.

Caldwell, a four-time Oaklawn leading owner, had claimed Payne out of his previous start for $20,000, a Feb. 8 victory for Kentucky-based trainer Eric Foster. Foster also won a $30,000 claiming race on Jan. 4 at Oaklawn with Payne, who dead-heated with Samurai Prince. It was Foster’s first career Oaklawn victory.

A late-running sprinter, Payne’s three consecutive victories at the meeting have all been at six furlongs. He’s run an eye-catching 1:09.77 and 1:09.56 in his last two victories.

“What a cool horse,” Caldwell said. “He’s a professional. He loves his job. He loves to compete and he’s the kind of horse I love in my barn. I’ve been very fortunate to have some good older horses.”

Caldwell has won Oaklawn’s Fifth Season Stakes twice with 9-year-olds – Domain’s Rap in 2017 and millionaire Rated R Superstar in 2022. Rated R Superstar also won the Essex Handicap (G3) later that year at Oaklawn. Domain’s Rap and Rated R Superstar were claimed for $10,000 and $50,000, respectively, by Caldwell, who topped the Oaklawn owner’s standings in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Payne is 0 for 7 in stakes races, but his 45-race resume is littered with quality opposition.

A son of Paynter, Payne began his racing career with trainer Brad Cox and ran third in his Sept. 23, 2017, career debut at Churchill Downs. Quip, winner of that 2-year-old maiden special weight sprint, captured the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in 2019.

Payne later ran in allowance/optional claiming races against future two-time Eclipse Award winner Elite Power (champion male sprinter in 2022 and 2023), future Grade 1 winner West Will Power, and Happy Is a Choice, now a multiple stakes winner. Before being claimed by Foster, Payne spent almost two years with Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who claimed the gelding for $40,000 in November 2022 at Churchill Downs.

Payne won three races for Asmussen (all at Oaklawn) before he lost the gelding to Foster through a $32,000 claim on Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs. Payne was regularly ridden in 2023 and 2024 by Keith Asmussen, the trainer’s oldest son. After Caldwell claimed Payne, Keith Asmussen reached out to the new connections to see if he could ride the gelding in his next start.

“I explained how sentimental the horse was to me,” Asmussen said. “Just worked out from there. I have a lot of respect for him (Caldwell) and Ingrid.”

Keith Asmussen’s first victory after becoming a full-time rider was on Nov. 23, 2022, at Churchill Downs aboard Total Impact for his father. Steve Asmussen, as an owner/trainer, claimed Payne was out of the same race. The first horse Keith Asmussen rode after fracturing a femur and ribs in a June 1 spill at Churchill Downs was Payne. That comeback mount was Sept. 21 at Churchill Downs.

Caldwell said Asmussen’s affection of Payne, and familiarity with the horse, made him the natural choice to ride the gelding again last month.

“I kept that in mind when I got ready to enter,” Caldwell said. “I called and, of course, he loved him. Actually, he kissed him in the winner’s circle. That’s how much he loves the horse. He knows the horse.”

The Feb. 24 victory was the 11th overall for Payne and pushed his earnings to $774,686. He also has 10 runner-up finishes and six-thirds. The gelding’s best work has come at Oaklawn, where he has a 6-4-2 mark from 14 starts and earnings of $393,750.

“Horse for course,” Asmussen said. “He loves his job. Being 10 years old and as game as he is, he’s just an absolute joy to ride.”

Payne, who originally sold for $42,000 in 2015 at Fasig-Tipton’s November Sale, is a half-brother to Vertical Oak, a multiple graded stakes winner for Steve Asmussen.

Finish Lines

Racing resumes Friday at 12:30 p.m. CDT. … Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen enters Friday with a record 973 career Oaklawn victories. … Ricardo Santana Jr. enters Friday with 787 career Oaklawn victories. Santana is an eight-time Oaklawn riding champion and its fourth-winningest rider in history. … Jockey Walter De La Cruz enters Friday with 190 career Oaklawn victories. … Raymond ($12.80) became the second three-time winner at the 2024-2025 Oaklawn meeting in last Saturday’s 11th and final race. Runaway Oaklawn leading apprentice jockey Tyler Bacon rode Raymond for trainer Tim Martin. … Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Sunday for two stakes races on March 22 at Oaklawn – $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles and the $175,000 Purple Martin for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs.