Oaklawn: $150,000 Pippin Stakes Recap

$150,000 Pippin Stakes Recap
Compiled by Robert Yates —-

Friday, Dec. 26, 2025

For Immediate Release

$150,000 Pippin Stakes

Standoutsensation lived up to her name again, scoring a 1 ½-length victory in the $150,000 Pippin Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and up, Friday at Oaklawn.

The even-money favorite in the six-horse field, Standoutsensation ($4) cruised to the lead on the outside approaching the three-furlong marker and repelled a brief stretch bid by Queen Azteca to win for the fourth consecutive time and fifth time in her last six starts.

Queen Azteca held second, 5 ½ lengths ahead of third-place finisher In Just My Heels, who lost early position after checking on the first turn. Peignoir, Corningstone and Reagan’s Flame, the early leader, completed the order of finish. Corningstone ($979,978) was bidding to become the first accredited Indiana-bred to reach $1 million in career earnings.

Providing jockey Luis Saez with his second of three victories on the card, Standoutsensation ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44.19. Trainer Tom Amoss, on behalf of owners Richard J. Emmett and Joel Politi, claimed Standoutsensation for $100,000 out of a maiden victory Nov. 22, 2023, at Churchill Downs. Standoutsensation has flourished the last 13 months, finishing first or second in 10 of 11 starts. Standoutsensation was exiting her first career stakes victory, the Turnback the Alarm at 1 1/8 miles Nov. 2 at Aqueduct.

A 4-year-old daughter of Take Charge Indy, Standoutsensation raised her career earnings to $660,237 following her sixth victory from 25 starts.

Racing resumes Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (Central). The 10-race card (all 2-year-olds) is highlighted by the $150,000 Year’s End Stakes for fillies at one mile.

PIPPIN QUOTES

WINNING JOCKEY LUIS SAEZ (STANDOUTSENSATION): “The first turn was a little bit tight. I tried to stay away from all the trouble. She’s a pretty nice filly to ride. She put me in a great spot. I could have taken the lead if we wanted. We wanted to have a target. Came into the stretch – I had so much horse.”

WINNING TRAINER TOM AMOSS VIA PHONE (STANDOUTSENSATION): “I do think it was (her best race). She’s now a multiple stakes winner. But this race was different than the last one, which was her first stakes win (Turnback the Alarm Nov. 2 at Aqueduct), in the sense that I thought the field was much better. And the way the pace set up for her today, it was fairly quick throughout, and she was still able to clear late, being close to the pace. So, I was really pleased to see that.”