2025.11.13 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse made a splash in his Oaklawn return last season, winning nine races – a single-season personal best in Hot Springs – including the $1.5 million G1-Arkansas Derby with Sandman.

Casse’s impact could be even bigger in 2025-2026 because several of his most prominent horses are ticketed for Oaklawn’s 64-day split season that begins Dec. 12.

Casse, who received 25 stalls, already has horses on the grounds.

“They’ll come in stages,” the Florida-based Casse said Thursday morning. “But we’re going to bring our big guns there.”

Casse said those big guns include Sandman, Grade 1-winning 3-year-old fillies Nitrogen and La Cara and unbeaten Kentucky Derby prospect Ewing. Casse said the four horses are now at his training center in Ocala, Fla.

Sandman was turned out after his last start in late August. The gray son of Tapit resumed training about three weeks ago, Casse said.

“You’re going to see, probably, his first breeze back in about 10 days,” Casse said. “I could see him possibly heading to Oaklawn within the next, probably, 30 days.”

Casse said the major spring objective for Sandman is the $1.25 million G2-Oaklawn Handicap for older horses at 1 1/8 miles April 18. Oaklawn’s series of major two-turn stakes races for older horses begins with the $500,000 G3-Razorback Handicap at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 28.

“Where we start back, not 100 percent sure,” Casse said. “We’re still too far away to know that. But he’s grown up, filled out and he looks tremendous. He’s moving wonderful, so very pleased with him.”

Sandman started four times last season at Oaklawn, including its final three Kentucky Derby preps. He earned $1,168,000, a single-season Oaklawn record.

Casse said the major spring objective for Nitrogen is Oaklawn’s $1.25 million G1-Apple Blossom Handicap for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles April 11 at Oaklawn. A leading candidate for champion 3-year-old filly, Nitrogen won six of nine starts in 2025, including the G1-Alabama Stakes Aug. 16 at Saratoga. She concluded her busy campaign with a runner-up finish against older horses in the G1-Breeders’ Cup Distaff Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

“Nitrogen is currently now on downtime,” Casse said. “She’s going to have, probably, 30 days off.”

Casse said Nitrogen’s 4-year-old debut could come in the $400,000 G2-Azeri Stakes March 7 at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile Azeri is the final major local prep for the Apple Blossom.

“That’s probably going to be our goal, the Azeri,” Casse said.

Ewing (two-for-two) is from the first crop of 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go. He broke his maiden July 5 at Saratoga, then won the G2-Saratoga Special Stakes Aug. 2. Ewing was scheduled to make his two-turn debut in the G1-Breeders’ Futurity Stakes Oct. 4 at Keeneland but was scratched.

“He had a minor injury,” Casse said. “We’ve taken care of that. We gave him some and he’s just starting back.”

Casse said Ewing’s road to the $1.5 million G1-Arkansas Derby March 28 could begin in a January sprint.

La Cara, Casse said, is targeting Oaklawn’s $250,000 G3-Bayakoa Stakes or older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 7. La Cara won the G1-Ashland Stakes last spring at Keeneland and the G1-Acorn Stakes June 6 at Saratoga. She hasn’t started since finishing fifth in the G1-Cotillion Stakes Sept. 20 at Parx.

“She’s a little ahead of Nitrogen because she got a rest 30 days prior,” Casse said, referring to La Cara. “I stopped on her right after the Cotillion.”

Boosted by Sandman, Casse ranked sixth in purse earnings last season at Oaklawn ($1,796,205). The 2024-2025 meeting marked the first time Casse had a string at Oaklawn since 2019, when he won five of 16 starts. Casse’s previous single-season high for victories at Oaklawn (six) came in 1988, 2014 and 2015.

“Our owners see what’s going on,” Casse said. “They like the purses. I think (Oaklawn owner Louis Cella), he tries to do the right thing and that’s important to us. We’re trying to support him with that. The purses are big. It’s a great place to race. I really appreciate how much the fans love racing there. Being an old soul like myself, that’s important.”

Oaklawn purses, the country’s highest for a winter venue, are projected to average more than $900,000 daily in 2025-2026.

Casse’s Oaklawn division is again being overseen by assistant Caden Arthur.

Finish Lines

Nominations for the $150,000 Advent Stakes for 2-year-olds, $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes for 3-year-olds and up and $135,000 Astral Spa Overnight Stakes for 2-year-old fillies are due Monday, Dec. 1. The Advent, to be run Friday, Dec. 12, is at 5 ½-furlongs. The Ring the Bell (Saturday, Dec. 13) and Astral Spa (Sunday, Dec. 14) are run at six furlongs. Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Dec. 5 for Oaklawn’s Dec. 12 opening-day card. The 64-day split season concludes May 2. … Apprentice jockey Amanda Poston, whose first three career victories were last season at Oaklawn, has two mounts in Saturday’s Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs. Poston is named to ride Oaklawn maiden winner Empire’s Best in the $100,000 Ready’s Rocket for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs and Shotshell in the $100,000 Iron Horse for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles. The Ready’s Rocket and Iron Horse are among eight races in the Claiming Crown, which is open to horses that have started for a specific claiming price in their racing careers. … Oaklawn stakes winner Bishops Bay, as a racing or stallion prospect, brought a sales record $1.3 million at Wednesday’s Keeneland Horses of Racing Age Sale.