Stakes Advance – Whitmore (G3); Purple Martin

Stakes Advance – Whitmore (G3); Purple Martin
Compiled by Robert Yates

Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing

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

Friday, March 13, 2026

OP Stakes Race Preview – Whitmore Stakes (G3) – Saturday, March 14

Already a stakes winner at the age of 2, 3, 4 and 6, millionaire Tejano Twist bids for a stakes victory at 7 in the $250,000 Whitmore (G3) Saturday at Oaklawn.

The Whitmore headlines an 11-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. CDT. Probable post time for the Whitmore, race 10, is 5:21 p.m. The card also features the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Both are six-furlong races.

The Whitmore, for older horses, is the final major local prep for the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 11.

Tejano Twist, a late-running sprinter, is seeking his seventh career stakes victory after securing his first in the Lively Shively for 2-year-olds in 2021 at Churchill Downs for trainer Bret Calhoun. Tejano Twist has bankrolled $1,757,632 in 46 lifetime starts.

Tejano Twist has won five stakes and earned $1,385,412 since trainer Chris Hartman, on behalf of owners Jackie Slawson (JD Thoroughbreds) and Joe Davis, claimed the Practical Joke gelding for $80,000 June 19, 2022, at Churchill Downs.

Three of those stakes victories have come at Oaklawn – $200,000 Whitmore (G3) and $150,000 Ring the Bell in 2023 and the $150,000 King Cotton in 2025. Tejano Twist also won the Steel Valley Sprint Stakes in 2022 at Mahoning Valley and surpassed $1 million in career earnings with a victory in the Bet On Sunshine Stakes in November 2023 at Churchill Downs.

“He’s a cool horse,” Hartman said. “There’s no doubt about it.”

Tejano Twist is the 5-2 program favorite for the Whitmore, which drew seven entrants. Hartman has tapped Francisco Arrieta to ride from post 4.

Tejano Twist exits an eye-catching 3 ½-length victory over 2025 Count Fleet winner Booth in a six-furlong allowance race March 1 at Oaklawn. Tejano Twist ran second in his previous start, beaten a half-length by Roll On Big Joe, in the $150,000 King Cotton Feb. 8.

“Running him back very quick, you know?” Hartman said. “Fourteen days back, but he’s doing good. His last two races have probably been some of his better races.”

Hartman is also scheduled to start Wendelssohn (3-1), who exits a third in the King Cotton. Wendelssohn owns three career Oaklawn victories, including the six-furlong $145,000 Eclipse Overnight Stakes last season. Wendelssohn also won the Thanksgiving Classic Stakes Nov. 27 at Fair Grounds.

“We’ve got two of them in there,” Hartman said. “One’s going to be forward and one’s going to be coming from the back.”

Millionaire Ryvit, Tough Catch, Gold Sweep, Bourbon Bash and Spankster are also entered.

Tough Catch opened his 4-year-old campaign with a 2 ½-length allowance victory Feb. 15 at Oaklawn for Fair Grounds-based co-owner/trainer Dallas Stewart. Tough Catch won the Sugar Bowl Stakes as a 2-year-old at Fair Grounds and closed 2025 with a runner-up finish in the Steel Valley Sprint for 3-year-olds Nov. 24.

“There’s no sprint races here at the Fair Grounds, so we just planned on getting him in an allowance race and it worked out great,” said Stewart, who has a division in Hot Springs. “Great purse. Thanks to Oaklawn. Now, he’s ready to step up into stakes company. He’s got some tigers to battle there, some very nice horses, so he’s going to have a battle on his hands.”

Tough Catch (7-2) switches to Ramon Vazquez after being ridden in his last five starts by Luis Saez. Tough Catch, racing over a muddy, sealed surface, covered six furlongs in 1:09.95 in his allowance victory last month.

“Very nice horse,” Stewart said. “His last race was impressive. He got away strong and was pretty strong down the backside. Of course, that’s what you get with Saez. But I like the way he kicked on good the last part. He’s a quality horse, for sure.”

Ryvit won the $150,000 Bachelor Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters in 2023 at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who also sends out Bourbon Bash.

Ryvit (4-1) edged Tejano Twist by three-quarters of a length to win a Jan. 2 allowance sprint at Oaklawn. Bourbon Bash, in his first start for Asmussen, won the six-furlong $135,000 Commodore Overnight Stakes Jan. 3 at Oaklawn. Bourbon Bash (5-1) finished fourth in the King Cotton after pressing the early pace.

OP Stakes Race Preview – Purple Martin Stakes – Saturday, March 14

An evenly matched field of seven, including You’re in Heaven, is entered in the six-furlong $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Oaklawn.

The Purple Martin is part of an 11-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. CDT. Probable post time for the Purple Martin, the eighth race, is 4:12 p.m. The card also features the $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) for older horses.

You’re in Heaven (3-1 on the morning line) will be making her stakes debut for trainer Dallas Stewart, who also co-owns the daughter of Global Campaign with WinStar Farm.

You’re in Heaven, in her second lifetime start, broke her maiden in a Dec. 27 sprint at Oaklawn, a card exclusively for 2-year-olds. She exits a runner-up finish in a starter/optional claimer at 1 mile and 70 yards Feb. 1 at Fair Grounds.

You’re in Heaven tuned up for the Purple Martin with a half-mile bullet workout (:46.80) Feb. 26 at Fair Grounds, where Stewart is based.

“She broke her maiden at Oaklawn, showed good speed,” Stewart said. “Came back and we tried to stretch her out. She ran pretty good. But she had a blistering workout for this. I think she’s a quality filly.”

Francisco Arrieta is named to ride You’re in Heaven from post 7.

River Wind, Wrong Shoes, Front Runnin, Goodall, Not a Lady and Our Two Girls are also entered.

River Wind, the 2-1 program favorite, will be making her second career start for trainer Norm Casse. Breaking from the rail in her Feb. 16 debut at Oaklawn, River Wind roared to a front-running 8 ¼-length victory at six furlongs under Ramon Vazquez, who has the return call.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is represented by Goodall and Not a Lady, the only stakes winner entered.

Goodall exits a half-length maiden special weight sprint victory Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds.

Not a Lady cuts back to a sprint after finishing fifth in the one-mile Sunland Park Oaks Feb. 15 at Sunland Park. Not a Lady won the one-mile Toby Keith Stakes Dec. 20 at Remington Park.

Asmussen is seeking his fourth Purple Martin victory since 2017.