2025.09.26 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, Sept. 26, 2025

Oaklawn stakes winners Mystik Dan and Banishing are the top two betting choices in the program for the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Probable post time for the Lukas Classic, the 10th of 11 races, is 4:29 p.m. (Central).

Mystik Dan (5-2) owns four career victories, including three at Churchill Downs. He won the 2024 Kentucky Derby and captured the $275,000 Blame Stakes (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on May 31 in his Churchill Downs return.

Mystik Dan rose to prominence after winning Oaklawn’s $800,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles in February 2024. The Southwest is Oaklawn’s second of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races.

Mystik Dan exits a fourth-place finish in the Arlington Million (G1), a 1 ¼-mile race Aug. 9 at Colonial Downs that marked his grass debut.

Banishing (3-1) was among the best horses to race last season at Oaklawn, capturing the $145,000 Byerley Turk Overnight Stakes at 6 furlongs Jan. 23 and the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) March 29. Banishing, in his last start, won the $1 million Charles Town Classic at 1 1/8 miles Aug. 22 at Charles Town.

Oaklawn allowance winners Hit Show (7-2), Disarm (4-1), and Oaklawn-raced Willy D’s (6-1) are also entered in the Lukas Classic.

On a Mission

Still searching for a Grade 1 victory, First Mission’s fifth opportunity comes Saturday when the multiple Oaklawn stakes winner starts in Santa Anita’s $300,000 Goodwood for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.

The Goodwood is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” for the $7 million Classic (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

First Mission is the 8-5 program favorite for the Goodwood, which also drew Oaklawn-raced Express Train and Gaming.

First Mission is a two-time Oaklawn stakes winner, taking the $600,000 Essex Handicap (G3) in 2024 and the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on April 19. Both races were for older horses at 1 1/8 miles.

First Mission, in his first start after the Oaklawn Handicap, finished third in the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles on June 28 at Churchill Downs.



A 5-year-old son of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, First Mission has a 6-3-2 record from 14 lifetime starts and earnings of $2,209,270.

Brad Cox trains First Mission for his breeder, Godolphin. Cox was Oaklawn’s co-sixth-leading trainer last season.

Finish Lines

Oaklawn allowance winner and champion Straight No Chaser is entered in the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs Sunday at Santa Anita. … Oaklawn stakes winner Majestic Oops is entered in the $250,000 Beldame Stakes (G2) Friday at Aqueduct and the $400,000 Delaware Handicap (G2) Sunday at Delaware Park. Both races are for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 1/8 miles. … Oaklawn allowance winner Impel is entered in the $250,000 Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 6 ½ furlongs Saturday at Aqueduct. … Oaklawn-raced Publisher, Iron Domeand Hot Gunner are entered in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles Sunday at Remington Park. … Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Kale’s Angel is entered in the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at about 6 ½ furlongs on the turf Saturday at Santa Anita. … Oaklawn maiden special weight graduates Will Take It and This Is Uscar and Oaklawn-raced Three Technique are entered in the $400,000 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 mile Saturday at Churchill Downs. … Oaklawn stakes winner Nash and Oaklawn-raced Patriot Spirit are entered in the $200,000 Vosburg Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 7 furlongs Saturday at Aqueduct. … Oaklawn allowance winner Awesome Aaron is entered in the $200,000 Battery Park Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles Sunday at Delaware Park. The Battery Park also drew 2024 race winner/multiple Oaklawn winner Auto Glide, Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Gould’s Gold and Oaklawn-raced Willy D’s and Film Star. … Oaklawn stakes winner Ryvit and Oaklawn-raced Surveillance, Stage Left and Blue Light are entered in the $100,000 David M. Vance Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs Sunday at Remington Park. … Oaklawn debut winner Usually Wrong is the 3-1 program favorite for the $250,000 Great West Turf Sprint Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 5 furlongs Sunday at Remington Park. … Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Seraphia, multiple Oaklawn winner Legal Empress and Oaklawn-raced Runnin N Gunnin are entered in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles Sunday at Remington Park. … Oaklawn stakes winner Ain’t Life Grand is the 7-5 program favorite for the $100,000 Governor Terry E. Branstad Stakes for older Iowa-bred colts and geldings at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Prairie Meadows. … Oaklawn-raced Glengarry is the 7-5 program favorite for the $100,000 Dan Johnson Sprint Stakes for 3-year-olds at up at 6 furlongs Saturday at Prairie Meadows. … Five-time Oaklawn winner Ninja Warrior is entered in the $100,000 Wilmington Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs Sunday at Delaware Park. … Oaklawn allowance/optional claiming winner Demidanu is the 5-2 program favorite for the $75,000 Iowa Classic Distaff Sprint Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 6 furlongs Saturday at Prairie Meadows. … Oaklawn allowance winner Neom Beach is the 5-2 program favorite for the $75,000 Ricks Memorial Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Sunday at Remington Park.