2026.09.17 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, Sept. 17, 2026

Oaklawn-raced Explora (#1, 3-5), one of the country’s top 3-year-old fillies, is the program favorite for the $300,000 Dogwood Stakes (G3) Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Probable post time for the Dogwood, a 7-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, is 8:39 p.m. (Central). It is the eighth race on an 11-race card.

Explora, who is trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, has won three of her last four starts, including the $750,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) March 1 at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile Honeybee was Oaklawn’s second of three qualifying races for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), the country’s biggest event for 3-year-old fillies. Explora was the even-money program favorite for the $1 million Fantasy Stakes (G2) March 27 – Oaklawn’s final Kentucky Oaks qualifying race – but she missed the 1 1/16-mile race because of a minor illness.

After running fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks May 1, the speedy Explora has flourished in her return to one-turn races. She won the Leslie’s Lady Stakes June 7 at Churchill Downs and the prestigious Test Stakes (G1) Aug. 8 at Saratoga. Both races were 7 furlongs.

Juan Hernandez is named to ride Explora from the rail in the projected six-horse Dogwood field.

Explora is a leading candidate for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

Playing Parx

Numerous Oaklawn-raced horses are entered Saturday at Parx, which has eight stakes races carded.

Millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Haulin Ice (#4, 8-5) is the program favorite for the Liberty Bell Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 6 ½ furlongs. Haulin Ice ($1,292,750) is the leading accredited Arkansas-bred career money winner in history.

The Greenwood Cup Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles, features Oaklawn stakes winner Parchment Party (#9, 9-5) is the program favorite, and Oaklawn allowance winner San Siro (#3, 5-2) is the early second choice. Oaklawn-raced Carolo Rapido (#5, 9-2) and Stronsino (#8, 6-1) are also entered.

Oaklawn stakes winners Alexander Helios (#8, 15-1) and Saudi Crown (#10, 3-1) and Oaklawn-raced Nelson Avenue (#3, 10-1) are entered in the Parx Dirt Mile Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward.

Oaklawn allowance winner Stradale (#8, 4-1) is entered in the Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at 6 furlongs.

Oaklawn-raced Bodacious Bay (#2, 8-1) and Tap to Open (#9, 8-1) are entered in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

Oaklawn maiden and allowance winner Pronghorn (#3, 3-1) is entered in the Philly Special Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 mile and 70 yards. Oaklawn-raced Sugar Fish (#5, 4-1) and U Lite Up My Life (#6, 5-1), an Oaklawn starter optional claiming winner, are also entered.

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 allowance winner Stars and Stripes (#2, 15-1) and Oaklawn-raced Render Judgment (#6, 20-1) are entered in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles Friday at Belmont Park. The Jockey Club Gold Cup is a “Win and You’re In” for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. … Oaklawn-raced Regan’s Flame (#5, 8-5) is the program favorite for the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 6 ½ furlongs Friday at Presque Isle Downs. Oaklawn-raced Paradise City (#3, 9-2) is also entered. … Oaklawn-raced Neoequos (#8, 5-2) is entered in the Presque Isle Mile Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles Friday at Presque Isle Downs. … Oaklawn-raced Maycocks Bay (#3, 3-5) is the program favorite for the Durham Cup Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Woodbine. … Oaklawn stakes winner French Friction (#1, 7-2) and Oaklawn-raced Sneaky Good (#4, 2-1) are entered in the Weather Vane Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs Saturday at Laurel. … Oaklawn debut winner American Man (#2, 9-5) is the program favorite for the Harrods Creek Stakes for 3-year-olds at 7 furlongs Saturday at Churchill Downs. Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Doublecents (#6, 12-1) is also entered. … Oaklawn-raced Woodstock (#1, 20-1) and Oaklawn allowance winner Knickleandime (#4, 6-1) are entered in the Seneca Overnight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Churchill Downs. … Apprentice jockey H. Luke Hoskins recorded his 10th career victory aboard Sisters in Town ($9.20) in Wednesday’s third race at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Hoskins made his riding debut May 2 at Oaklawn. Hoskins rode Sisters in Town for his biggest supporter, trainer John Ortiz, an Oaklawn regular. … Apprentice jockey Miranda Long finished third aboard J.L. Break in Wednesday’s fourth race at Canterbury Park, her highest finish since making her career debut July 9 at the Minnesota track. Long has worked the last few seasons at Oaklawn as an exercise rider for trainers Mac Robertson and Lindsay Schultz. Long has five career mounts. … Jockey Ramon Vazquez, Oaklawn’s leading rider last season, enters Thursday with 3,988 career North American victories, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Vazquez is now based at Remington Park.