2026.01.13 Oaklawn – Racing Update

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026

Florida-based dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said in November that he would send some of his best horses to Oaklawn for its 64-day split season that began Dec. 12, adding they would arrive in waves.

The latest wave washed ashore last weekend, carrying, among others, millionaire Grade 1 winner Nitrogen, whose major spring objective is the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares April 11 at Oaklawn, Casse said.

Casse had previously shipped Grade 1 winners Sandman (Arkansas Derby) and La Cara (Ashland and Acorn) to Oaklawn, then Grade 2 winner Ewing (Saratoga Special), to continue preparations for major races this winter and spring in Hot Springs. Like Sandman, La Cara and Ewing, Nitrogen had previously been based at Casse’s training center in north-central Florida.

Assistant trainer Caden Arthur, who oversees Casse’s Oaklawn division, said Nitrogen was vanned to Oaklawn and arrived around 7 a.m. (Central) Sunday.

“She looks great,” Arthur said Tuesday morning. “She’s healthy right now and we’re very excited for her 4-year-old campaign here at Oaklawn Park with her.”

Casse said Nitrogen could launch her 2026 campaign in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 7. The Azeri is the final major local prep for the Apple Blossom. Both races are 1 1/16 miles.

A homebred for D. J. Stables (Jonathan and Leonard Green), Nitrogen is among three finalists for an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2025 after winning six-of-nine starts, including the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. In her last two 2025 starts, Nitrogen finished second against older horses in the Spinster Stakes (G1) Oct. 5 at Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Nitrogen logged workouts Dec. 31 and Jan. 7 at Casse’s training center before shipping to Oaklawn.

Nitrogen is by Medaglia d’Oro, who broke his maiden at the 2002 Oaklawn meeting for trainer David Vance and returned to win the 2003 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. Nitrogen, overall, has a 6-4-2 record from 12 starts and earnings of $2,046,604. Nitrogen is also a graded stakes winner on grass.

Arthur said Nitrogen was among six horses that arrived Sunday, increasing Casse’s total to 28 on the grounds. The group, Arthur said, includes “a couple of non-starters,” one being Equity, a 3-year-old colt from the first crop of millionaire multiple Grade 2 winner Tacitus. Equity is a half-brother to millionaire multiple Group 2 winner Isolate.

Casse was maybe the biggest story of Oaklawn’s 13-day Holiday racing season that concluded Jan. 4.

Casse won at a staggering 48-percent clip (11 of 23), highlighted by four stakes, and bankrolled $821,659 in purses. Casse also recorded five runner-up finishes and three thirds, meaning 83 percent of his starters finished in the top three.

Casse had starters in four stakes races and produced a 4-1-0 record, with Strategic Risk and Silent Tactic finishing first and second, respectively, in the $250,000 Smarty Jones for 3-year-olds Jan. 3.

Casse also won the inaugural $135,000 Astral Spa Overnight Stakes and $150,000 Year’s End Stakes with Counting Stars and the inaugural $135,000 Oaklawn Sports Overnight Stakes with Nerazurri.

“It’s kind of unbelievable,” Arthur said. “To be almost 50 percent (win percentage) in horse racing is crazy. Fifteen percent is pretty good and to be at 50 percent to start the meet is unbelievable. Thanks to the horses, of course, and our whole team and the owners for this great start. Having some nice horses that fit here at Oaklawn Park definitely helps and we’re just trying to take advantage of it and keep winning races and keep the horses healthy and sound.”

Oaklawn’s 51-day Classic racing season is Jan. 30-May 2.

Statistics from the Holiday racing season will be carried over to the Classic racing season to determine 2025-2026 leaders in human and equine categories, Oaklawn director of racing Jason Milligan said.

Finish Lines

Arkansas-bred Honey’s to Blame, a sharp maiden special graduate Dec. 13 at Oaklawn for trainer Kenny McPeek, worked a half-mile in :49.40 Friday. McPeek said Honey’s to Blame had been under consideration for the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds Jan. 3 at Oaklawn before suffering a minor illness. Honey’s to Blame could resurface in an allowance race, McPeek said. The Smarty Jones was Oaklawn’s first of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races. … Nominations close Monday for the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) Jan. 31. The 1 1/16-mile Southwest is Oaklawn’s second Kentucky Derby qualifying race. … Arkansas-bred star Navy Seal will be pointed to the $150,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes Feb. 21 at Oaklawn, trainer Nancy Knott said. Navy Seal won the six-furlong state-bred race in 2025. Navy Seal finished fourth against open company in the $135,000 Commodore Overnight Stakes Jan. 3 at Oaklawn, increasing his career earnings to $679,744.