2025.04.16 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Press Release
Compiled by Robert Yates

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs continues to pile up single-season Oaklawn personal bests at the 2024-2025 meeting.

A victory by Ngala ($17.40) in Friday’s seventh race represented Moquett’s 29th at the meeting, bettering his previous high (28), set in 2018. Moquett ($2,669,157) has already smashed his previous high for purse earnings and recorded his first seven-figure victory in Hot Springs with Speed King in the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Jan. 25.

Moquett ($2,155,566) cracked $2 million in purse earnings for the first time at an Oaklawn meeting last season.

“I think this has been my best meet, considering what I was working with as well,” Moquett, 53, said. “The year that I had the (Alex) Lieblong horses and the John Ed (Anthony) horses, I did very well with expected allowance races and expected maiden specials, with the Joe Ford horses, and all that. After I got sick, I didn’t have any more of those horses. People saw the small number of 3-year-olds I started with and then how many maiden specials I won, that sort of stuff. I think this is probably, per capita, the best year I’ve had for a while.”

Moquett, in 2018, was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a condition that made his breathing difficult. He dipped to 15 victories at the 2019 Oaklawn meeting. Mirroring improved health, Moquett’s Oaklawn numbers have been trending upward in recent years. He won 19 races at the 2022-2023 meeting and 22 races last season. Moquett notched his 30th Oaklawn victory this season in Saturday’s third race with I Am Beautiful ($23.60). It was Moquett’s 14th maiden victory of the meeting.

Overall, Moquett ranks second in victories and third in purse earnings at the 2024-2025 Oaklawn meeting that ends May 3.

Moquett said he’s had approximately 60 horses in training during the meeting, split between Oaklawn and its satellite training center, Ten Mile Creek, about 20 miles east of Hot Springs.

“Overall, I’m really pleased with outcome, based on what I came here with,” Moquett said.

Moquett (368 victories) is the ninth-winningest trainer in Oaklawn history. He saddled his first career Oaklawn winner Feb. 10, 1999.

Free Like a Girl eyes La Troienne

Louisiana-bred standout Free Like a Girl is scheduled to make her next start in the $1 million La Troienne Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles May 2 at Churchill Downs, co-owner/trainer Chasey Deville Pomier said Sunday afternoon, moments before departing for her base at Evangeline Downs.

Free Like a Girl finished second behind champion Idiomatic in last year’s La Troienne and ran second to reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) Saturday at Oaklawn, beaten 4 ¼ lengths in the 1 1/16-mile race for older fillies and mares.

“We’re heading south for right now, but we’ll go up north next weekish for the La Troienne,” Deville Pomier said. “That’s the game plan unless something changes when we get home.”

The Apple Blossom was the 50th career start for Free Like a Girl, a 6-year-old daughter of El Deal who is co-owned by Gerald Bruno Jr. and Jerry Caroom of Hot Springs. Caroom was Oaklawn’s second-leading owner in 2022-2023. Bruno purchased Free Like a Girl for $5,500 at the 2020 Equine Sales of Louisiana Yearling Sale.

Free Like a Girl has 21 career victories, including 19 stakes, and earnings of $2,497,188, an all-time record for an accredited Louisiana-bred. Free Like a Girl was an allowance winner last year at Oaklawn before finishing third in the Apple Blossom. She also finished second behind Thorpedo Anna in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 8 at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile Azeri was the final major local prep for the Apple Bossom.

Thorpedo Anna is also pointing for the La Troienne, trainer Kenny McPeek said.

Finish Lines

Racing resumes Friday at Oaklawn, with first post 12:20 p.m. (Central). … Oaklawn will be closed for racing and training Sunday in observance of Easter. … Trainer Tom Amoss recorded his 100th career Oaklawn victory when My Noble Knight ($10.60) won Sunday’s seventh race. The victory also pushed Amoss ($1,017,150) over $1 million in purse earnings for the first time at an Oaklawn meeting. My Noble Knight was the 12th winner of the meeting for Amoss, whose first Oaklawn victory was in 1989. … Grade 2 winner Taxed was to depart Wednesday for Churchill Downs to continue preparations for the $1 million Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares at seven furlongs May 3, trainer Randy Morse said. Taxed, in her last start, was an allowance winner at six furlongs March 9 at Oaklawn. … Jockey Kylee Jordan (December shoulder surgery) began getting on horses late last week at Oaklawn and said she is targeting a comeback at Prairie Meadows, which opens May 9. Jordan hasn’t ridden since re-injuring her shoulder Sept. 26 at Prairie Meadows. Jordan, before the surgery, galloped future Arkansas Derby winner Sandman in November at Oaklawn. Jordan has 30 career Oaklawn victories.