2026.09.15 Oaklawn Racing Update

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing

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

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026

He did it again with another Oaklawn-raced horse.

Kerry’s Kiss punched her ticket to the Breeders’ Cup with a front-running 1 ½-length victory over favored Simply Joking in the $225,000 Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream Park.

Kerry’s Kiss ($6.40) gave south Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. his fourth consecutive victory in the Princess Rooney, a 7-furlong “Win and You’re In” for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

Joseph’s last three Princess Rooney winners raced at Oaklawn, including Arkansas-bred star Haulin Ice (2025) and Kerry’s Kiss. Both horses were privately purchased and transferred to Joseph following allowance victories in Hot Springs.

Joseph also won the 2024 Princess Rooney with Soul of an Angel, who, for trainer Gerald James, finished sixth in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) earlier that year at Oaklawn.

Kerry’s Kiss was a 1 1/16-mile allowance winner April 18 at Oaklawn before being sold. She’s 3 for 3 (all sprints at Gulfstream Park) for Joseph. Kerry’s Kiss won the 6 ½-furlong Musical Romance Handicap June 27 and the 7-furlong Sheer Drama Handicap Aug. 15.

Ridden Saturday by Edwin Gonzalez, Kerry’s Kiss’ winning time over a good surface was 1:25.33. Simply Joking finished second, previously beaten three-quarters of a length, in the $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) in 2025 at Oaklawn.

The Princess Rooney was the sixth victory in 18 lifetime starts for Kerry’s Kiss and raised her earnings to $437,550. She is a three-time stakes winner. Kerry’s Kiss, 4-year-old daughter of champion Vino Rosso, has made 11 career starts at Oaklawn. She broke her maiden for a $50,000 claiming tag April 4, 2025, at Oaklawn.

Haulin Ice became the leading accredited Arkansas-bred career money winner after capturing last year’s Princess Rooney. A multiple Oaklawn stakes winner, Haulin Ice finished sixth in the Filly & Mare Sprint in her next start.

Joseph won the 2023 Princess Rooney with Three Witches, who ran third in the Filly & Mare Sprint in her next start.



Soul of an Angel won the 2024 Filly & Mare Sprint en route to an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion female sprinter that year.

Finish Lines

Stall applications for Oaklawn’s 65-day split season (Nov. 27-May 1) are due Sept. 25. The stable area opens Oct. 15. The track opens for training Oct. 21. … Oaklawn-raced Kaboom ($14) won the Indiana First Lady Handicap for registered Indiana-bred 3-year-old fillies at 1 mile and 70 yards Friday at Horseshoe Indianapolis. … Oaklawn-raced Doudoudouwanadance finished second in the Shawn Bergquist Memorial Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf Friday at Remington Park. … Oaklawn-raced Fantastical finished second in the Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Woodbine. … Oaklawn-raced Look Forward finished second in the Open Mind Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 6 furlongs Saturday at Churchill Downs. … Oaklawn allowance winner Echo Again and Oaklawn stakes winner Dreaminblue finished second and third, respectively, in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 6 ½ furlongs Saturday at Churchill Downs. … Oaklawn maiden and “Ratings Handicap” winner Pink Ruby finished third in the Ogletown Handicap for Delaware-bred or certified fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 mile and 70 yards Friday at Delaware Park. … Oaklawn-raced Tracking Error finished third in the DTHA Governors Day Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 mile and 70 yards Saturday at Delaware Park.