2026.02.06 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing

cho@oaklawn.com, 501-623-4411 ext. 4201

Friday, Feb. 6, 2026

Ricardo Santana Jr. became just the fourth jockey in Oaklawn history to reach 800 career victories when he guided Will Take It to a narrow score in Thursday’s $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes.

Will Take It ($11.80) edged Woodcourt by a head in the one-mile race for older horses. Santana, an eight-time Oaklawn riding champion, entered Thursday, Day 1 of Oaklawn’s Classic racing season, with 799 career victories in Hot Springs.

Santana, 33, credited trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs for steering him to Oaklawn in 2011, adding local riding champions Calvin Borel and Terry Thompson were also instrumental in his development.

“Got lucky, you know?” Santana said moments after the Fifth Season. “Moquett, he helped get me here and gave me a lot of opportunities when I started. I have to say thanks to Terry Thompson. There are a lot of people who don’t know how much he helped me. Calvin Borel, too. Those are two top riders that I respect.”

A native of Panama, Santana recorded his first career Oaklawn victory Jan. 21, 2011. Closely aligned with Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, Santana won six consecutive Oaklawn riding titles (2013-2018) and also topped the standings in 2020 and 2021. Santana is Oaklawn’s career leader in purse earnings ($47.9 million) and ranks second in career stakes victories (65).

“I’m really thankful that I’ve won 800,” Santana said. “Arkansas opened the door for me and made me who I am.”

Santana enjoyed a long run with agent Ruben Munoz, who brought the jockey to the United States in 2009. New York-based PJ Campo now represents Santana.

Retired Hall of Famer Pat Day (1,264 victories) is the winningest jockey in Oaklawn history. The late Larry Snyder and Borel, also a member of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, are the only other jockeys in Oaklawn history to reach 800 career victories.

Santana rode Will Take It for trainer Dallas Stewart and co-owners Kevin Horton (Willis Horton Racing) and Mandy Pope (Whisper Hill Farm).

Santana now splits his time between Oaklawn and New York. Santana recorded his 2,000th career North American victory (United States, Canada and Puerto Rico) last April at Oaklawn.

Sandman Returns Saturday

It’s been almost 20 years since an Arkansas Derby winner returned to Oaklawn to win as an older horse.

Sandman will have that opportunity Saturday when he makes his 4-year-old debut in the fourth race, a $126,000 allowance for older horses at 1 1/16 miles that could serve as a prep for the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 28 at Oaklawn.

Unraced since late August, Sandman is seeking his first victory since the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) last March. The gray son of Tapit has lost his last four starts, including a seventh in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Preakness and fifth in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2).

“He had a long, hard campaign,” dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said. “We ran him all winter long. No question he tailed off some in (late summer). Gave him some time off. He’s grown up, he looks good. There’s a couple of horses in there that are going to be tough, but we’re just looking for a good effort. A big race here could set him up for the Razorback.”

Sandman won two of his four starts last season in Hot Springs, with the Arkansas Derby propelling him to a single-season Oaklawn record for purse earnings ($1,168,000).

Sandman, who will be break from the rail under Jose Ortiz, is the 2-1 program favorite for his comeback race. Sandman will be racing on the anti-bleeder medication Lasix for the first time in his career.

Lawyer Ron is the last Arkansas Derby winner to win at Oaklawn as an older horse.

Lawyer Ron won the 2006 Arkansas Derby for trainer Bob Holthus, then returned in 2007 to capture the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for future Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Lawyer Ron won an Eclipse Award in 2007 as North America’s champion older horse.

Probable post time for the fourth race is 1:32 p.m. (Central).

Finish Lines

Oaklawn will race Sunday, which was originally a dark day on its 2025-2026 racing calendar because of the Super Bowl. There is a special first post of noon CST. Probable post time for the 10th and final race is 4:27 p.m., approximately an hour before Super Bowl kickoff. Oaklawn moved its Feb. 1 card to Sunday after losing three racing dates to last month’s winter storm. … After breaking his maiden by 7 ½ lengths Dec. 26 at Oaklawn, heavily favored Nu What’s New recorded the most lopsided victory of the 2025-2026 meeting (12 ½ lengths) in Thursday’s fourth race, a $125,000 first-level allowance for older horses at 1 1/16 miles. Luis Saez rode Nu What’s New ($2.40) for trainer Jimmy DiVito and owner Richard Templer. …

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and his youngest son, jockey Erik Asmussen, teamed for three victories Thursday. They won the third race with favored Cape Trafalgar ($6.80), sixth race with favored Carbone ($7.20) and the 10th and final race with Private Debbie ($37.60). It was the second career Oaklawn riding triple for Erik Asmussen, an Eclipse Award winner as North America’s outstanding apprentice jockey of 2024. … Steve Asmussen, Oaklawn’s all-time leading trainer, has a meet-high 16 victories through the first 14 days of racing.