2026.06.18 Oaklawn Racing Update

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing

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

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Oaklawn stakes winner Desert Gate bids for his third consecutive victory in Saturday’s $500,000 G3-Ohio Derby at Thistledown near Cleveland.

Probable post time for the 1 1/8-mile Ohio Derby, the finale on a 12-race card, is 5:20 p.m. CDT.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Desert Gate has recorded two front-running blowout victories since he began racing with blinkers.

Desert Gate was a 9 ¾-length winner of the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes March 26 at Oaklawn and captured the $300,000 Texas Derby May 25 at Lone Star Park by 6 ¼ lengths. Those races were one mile and 1 1/16 miles, respectively.

The 5-2 program favorite, Desert Gate will be reunited with jockey Flavien Prat, who rode the son of 2019 Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach for the first time in the Hot Springs. Desert Gate is scheduled to break from post 8 in the 10-horse field. All starters carry 126 pounds.

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Desert Gate was one of the country’s top 2-year-olds after winning the G3-Best Pal Stakes and finishing second in the G1-Del Mar Futurity and G1-American Pharoah Stakes. The Hot Springs was his first start outside California and his second start as a 3-year-old after a fourth-place finish in Santa Anita’s G3-Robert B. Lewis Stakes in February.

Texas Derby runner-up Chad Allan and is also entered in the Ohio Derby. Chad Allan (6-1) ran six times this season at Oaklawn, highlighted by a runner-up finish, beaten a half-length, in the nine-furlong $200,000 Bathhouse Row Stakes April 18 for trainer Robert A. Young.

Finish Lines

Oaklawn stakes winners Zeitlos, Queen’s Martini and Foie Gras are entered in the seven-furlong $300,000 G2-Chicago Stakes for older fillies and mares Saturday at Churchill Downs. Oaklawn-raced Evanescence and Beauty Reigns are also entered. … Oaklawn stakes winners Standoutsensation, Nerazurri and Peignoir, as well as Oaklawn-raced Take Charge Omaha, are entered in the $250,0000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes for fillies and mares Saturday at Thistledown on the Ohio Derby under card.. … Two-time Oaklawn riding champion Francisco Arrieta entered Thursday with 95 career victories at Churchill Downs after riding seven winners last week. Arrieta had riding triples June 12 and June 13.