2026.03.05 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sent two horses last week to Oaklawn for major Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks prep races.

Baffert said Explora returned to Southern California following her three-quarter length victory over Counting Stars in the $750,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for fillies.

“Litmus Test, I left him there,” Baffert said Wednesday afternoon.

That’s because Baffert said he already plans to run Litmus Test in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) March 28, a 1 1/8-mile race he’s won a record-tying five times.

Litmus Test will be chasing more Kentucky Derby qualifying points at Oaklawn after finishing third as the favorite in Sunday’s $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles. Litmus Test, after grabbing the lead from the rail, weakened in the stretch and was beaten 5 ¼ lengths in his first start since winning the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos.

“I didn’t want to bring him all the way back here and ship him back,” Baffert said. “He’s there. I want to give him another chance. I didn’t want to run here (Santa Anita). I’ve got other horses for here. Just splitting them up.”

Litmus Test (34 points) is No. 8 on the official Kentucky Derby leaderboard compiled by Churchill Downs. The Arkansas Derby will offer 200 points (100-50-25-15-10, respectively) to its top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.

Baffert won the Arkansas Derby in 2012 (Bodemeister), 2015 (American Pharoah), 2020 (Charlatan and Nadal) and 2024 (Muth). American Pharoah went on to sweep the Triple Crown. The race was split in 2020.

Baffert has a record 20 victories in Kentucky Derby prep races at Oaklawn.

Baffert said next-race plans are pending for Explora, who received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 88, equaling a career high, in the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee, the final major local prep for the $1 million Fantasy Stakes (G2) March 27.

A finalist for an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion 2-year-old filly, Explora ($1,064,250) surpassed $1 million in career earnings with her third stakes victory.

“I’m just going to see how she responds out of that race,” Baffert said. “She’ll definitely be nominated to the Fantasy. I’ll have something in the Fantasy. We’ve got some fillies running out here Sunday (G3 Santa Ysabel Stakes).”

The 1 1/16-mile Fantasy will offer 200 points (100-50-25-15-10, respectively) to its top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks. Baffert is unbeaten in three Kentucky Oaks preps at Oaklawn, winning the Fantasy in 1999 with Excellent Meeting and again in 2012 with Mamma Kimbo.

Dallas in Hot Springs

Nearing the halfway point of the 2025-2026 Oaklawn meeting, trainer Dallas Stewart has already set a single-season high for victories in Hot Springs.

Stewart, who has a string at Oaklawn for the first time since 2022-2023, has six victories from 31 starts. Sunday was Day 29 of the 2025-2026 split season, which was originally scheduled to cover 64 dates.

“So far, so good,” the Fair Grounds-based Stewart said Wednesday afternoon. “Nice place. I’ve got a long history there, now.”

Stewart said he has around 15 horses at Oaklawn, including stakes-winning Tough Catch, a 4-year-old Complexity colt he co-owns with Gervais Racing (Lori Gervais).

Tough Catch opened 2026 with a sharp 2 ½-length allowance victory Feb. 15. The gray colt ran six furlongs over a muddy, sealed track in 1:09.95. Stewart said Tough Catch is pointing for the six-furlong $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) for older horses March 14.

Stewart said he plans to start You’re in Heaven in the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs March 14. Stewart, in partnership with WinStar Farm, bred and campaigns You’re in Heaven, a Dec. 27 maiden winner at Oaklawn.

Stewart said multiple stakes winner Will Take It is pointing for the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) for older horses March 28, adding eight-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr. will retain the mount. Will Take It is now training at Fair Grounds after winning the one-mile $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn. Stewart trains Will Take It for Whisper Hill Farm (Mandy Pope) and Arkansan Kevin Horton (Willis Horton Racing).

Stewart’s previous single-season high for victories at Oaklawn was four in 2021-2022. He has 31 victories overall at Oaklawn.

Prior to striking out on his own, Stewart spent winters at Oaklawn as an assistant under Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Fittingly, Stewart and trainer Mike Maker share the Royal Glint barn, which was Lukas’ longtime Oaklawn home before his death in June. Maker was also a Lukas assistant.

“Pretty cool,” Stewart said.

Finish Lines

Bossofmi ($8.40) broke his maiden in Sunday’s seventh race to give trainer Randy Morse his 361st career Oaklawn victory. …. Triple Crown nominee Fancy Fairlane ($9) broke his maiden in Sunday’s eighth race to give trainer Greg Foley his first Oaklawn victory since Feb. 16, 2008. Foley winters at Fair Grounds and is a longtime regular in Kentucky. … Ford’s Ma’am, an unraced 3-year-old half-sister to 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, worked a half-mile in :48.80 Thursday morning for trainer Kenny McPeek. The track was fast. Ford’s Ma’am is from the first crop of 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go and the hope is she will debut at the meeting, said Arkansan Lance Gasaway, who bred and owns Ford’s Ma’am in partnership. Gasaway also bred and raced the McPeek-trained Mystik Dan in partnership. … Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Roll On Big Joe will make his next start in the six-furlong $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) for older horses March 14, trainer Bob Hess Jr. said in a text message Wednesday afternoon. Roll On Big Joe is seeking his third stakes victory this season at Oaklawn after capturing the $150,000 Ring the Bell Dec. 13 and $150,000 King Cotton Feb. 8. Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Sunday for the Whitmore and six-furlong $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Unbeaten French Friction is under consideration for the Purple Martin and $750,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles April 3 at Keeneland, dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said Monday morning. French Friction won the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes at six furlongs Feb. 14 in her last start.