2025.09.11 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing

cho@oaklawn.com, 501-623-4411 ext. 420

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Skelly looks to rebound in the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The Louisville Thoroughbred Society, for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs, is one of five stakes on the 11-race card. Probable post time for the Louisville Thoroughbred Society, the 10th race, is 4:29 p.m. CDT.

The speedy Skelly has been dominant the last three seasons at Oaklawn, recording a record 10 consecutive victories (all at six furlongs), including six stakes, for owner Red Lane Thoroughbreds (Chris Hicks) and Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Skelly will be making his first start since finishing last of six in the six-furlong $275,000 G3-Aristides Stakes for older horses May 31 at Churchill Downs.

Following a sluggish start, Skelly was unable to grab his customary uncontested early lead and tired in the stretch, beaten 9 ¼ lengths by Oaklawn-raced and fellow Louisville Thoroughbred Society entrant Durante. Skelly was scratched from the $400,000 G2-Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes on July 19 at Saratoga.

Skelly opened 2025 with two easy victories at Oaklawn. Skelly won an April 11 allowance by 5 ¼ lengths, then captured the $200,000 Lake Hamilton Stakes May 2 by 10 ½ lengths. Skelly won his comeback in 1:09.27 and third consecutive Lake Hamilton in 1:08.15, just off the track record (1:07.80).

Skelly is the 7-2 second choice in the program for the Louisville Thoroughbred Society, which drew a field of 11. To be ridden for the first time by Luis Saez, Skelly is scheduled to break from post 10 and carry equal top weight of 123 pounds.

In addition to Durante (12-1), the Louisville Thoroughbred Society drew Oaklawn stakes winner Nash (6-1).

Saturday’s card also features the 1 1/16-miles $400,000 G2-Locust Grove Stakes for fillies and mares and the $300,000 Open Mind Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs.

Five Oaklawn-raced horses – Alpine Princess, Royal Spa, Corningstone, Free Like a Girl and Our Pretty Woman – are entered in the Locust Grove.

Corningstone is a multiple Oaklawn stakes winner for trainer Kenny McPeek. Free Like a Girl finished second behind Thorpedo Anna, McPeek’s 2024 Horse of the Year, in Oaklawn’s $400,000 G2-Azeri Stakes on March 8 and $1.25 million G1-Apple Blossom Handicap on April 12.

Oaklawn allowance winner Royal Spa is the 8-5 program favorite for the Locust Grove.

The Open Mind drew Oaklawn-raced Gray Lightning and Mink’s Palace and Oaklawn allowance winners Taxed and Impel.

Finish Lines

Stall applications for Oaklawn’s 2025-2026 season are due Sept. 18. The stable area opens Oct. 23 and the track opens for training Oct. 28. The 64-day meeting is scheduled to run Dec. 12-May 2. … Oaklawn stakes winner Lady Moscato is entered in a 6 ½-furlong allowance race for fillies and mares Thursday at Churchill Downs. … Oaklawn stakes winners Kavod and Ryvit are entered in a 6 ½-furlong allowance race Friday at Churchill Downs. Ryvit ($1,000,049) surpassed $1 million in career earnings in his last start, a second-place finish in an Aug. 9 allowance sprint at Ellis Park. … Lady Moscato and Ryvit are trained by Oaklawn all-time leader Steve Asmussen, who enters Thursday with a record 10,974 career North American victories, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Asmussen has 993 career Oaklawn victories.