Oaklawn: $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) $150,00 Purple Martin Stakes Recaps

$250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3)

He’s now in seventh heaven.

Tejano Twist, with his trademark late rush under Francisco Arrieta, swept to the lead on the far outside in deep stretch and coasted to a two-length victory in the $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) for older sprinters Saturday at Oaklawn.

The Whitmore was Tejano Twist’s seventh career stakes victory and first as a 7-year-old. The Practical Joke gelding was already a stakes winner at the age of 2, 3, 4 and 6. He also won the Whitmore in 2023 for trainer Chris Hartman and co-owners Jackie Slawson (JD Thoroughbreds) and Joe Davis.

Tejano Twist was the 2-1 second choice Saturday. Tough Catch finished second, a neck ahead of Gold Sweep, who was followed, in order, by 8-5 favorite Wendelssohn, Bourbon Bash and Ryvit. Spankster was scratched, reducing the starting field to six.

Hartman also trains Wendelssohn, who broke from the rail and took the field through a :44.68 half-mile. Last early, Tejano Twist began advancing on the leaders passing the three-eighths pole and easily took the lead, under wraps, in the final sixteenth of a mile. The winning time for six furlongs over a fast track was 1:08.93.

Tejano Twist paid $6, $3.20 and $2.40. Tough Catch paid $4.80 and $3.20. Gold Sweep paid $5.60.

Tejano Twist raised his lifetime earnings to $1,903,882 following his 12th victory from 47 starts. Tejano Twist has won six stakes and earned $1,531,662 since Hartman, on behalf of JD Thoroughbreds and Davis, claimed the gelding for $80,000 June 19, 2022, at Churchill Downs.

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

Racing resumes Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (Central).

Whitmore Stakes Quotes:

Winning Jockey Francisco Arrieta (Tejano Twist): “I started asking him to pick it up passing the three-eighths pole. I almost went inside, but I took him to the outside and let him go. I didn’t want to find any trouble. I had so much horse, too. I was just waiting for the stretch, switch leads, and let him go. He’s a nice horse and has a good trainer, too.”

Winning Trainer Chris Hartman (Tejano Twist): “We knew there was going to be a pace up there. I mean, the other horse (stablemate Wendelssohn) was on the lead. I didn’t know who was going to win, but I knew Tejano would be running late. But he turned it on late. It was game over.”

$150,000 Purple Martin

Lightly raced Goodall’s stakes debut was a breeze.

Taking command on the outside turning for home, Goodall drew off to a 4 ½-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters.

Ridden by Erik Asmussen, Goodall covered six furlongs over a fast track in 1:08.78, bettering the previous stakes record (1:09.01), set in 2021 by Pretty Birdie.

River Wind, the 3-5 favorite, finished second after breaking last from the rail. Our Two Girls, Wrong Shoes, You’re in Heaven, Front Runnin and Not a Lady completed the order of finish.

Goodall paid $12, $4.20 and $3. River Wind paid $2.60 and $2.10. Our Two Girls paid $3.

Goodall was making just her third lifetime start for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and Spendthrift Farm, which stands Goodall’s sire, Yaupon. Spendthrift’s stallion sales manager, Mark Toothaker, bred Goodall in partnership.

Goodall was exiting a front-running half-length maiden victory Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds.

Goodall’s second career victory raised her earnings to $136,500. Spendthrift purchased Goodall for $525,000 at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in training.

Asmussen has won the Purple Martin four times in the last decade.

Purple Martin Stakes Quotes

Winning Jockey Erik Asmussen (Goodall): “She’s just a super-talented filly. Can’t thank the owners (Spendthrift Farm) and my dad enough for the opportunity to ride such a talented filly. We’ve always thought the world of her, so to be able to sit on her back was fun.”

Winning Trainer Steve Asmussen (Goodall): “She’s a lovely filly. Extremely talented, big future, daughter of Yaupon – (1:08 3/5) for a 3-year-old filly here today. I think she’s a serious racehorse.”

Second-place Jockey Ramon Vazquez (River Wind): “She stayed back a little bit in the gate. She’s always had a little trouble in the gate. Even in the morning, sometimes she’s sitting back. Today, she didn’t break sharp like she did the first time.”