2026.09.24 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. 24, 2026

Three starters from Oaklawn’s biggest two-turn race for older fillies and mares last April are entered in Breeders’ Cup preps this weekend, including champion Nitrogen in the $250,000 Beldame Stakes (G2) Friday at Belmont Park.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Nitrogen is the using the 1 1/8-mile Beldame as a bridge to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Nitrogen (#4) is the overwhelming 1/9 program favorite for the Beldame, which is the second race on the nine-race card. Probable post time is 12:47 p.m. (Central).

Nitrogen was North America’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2025 after winning six stakes races, including the Alabama (G1), and finishing second against older horses in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

Nitrogen made her first three 2026 starts at Oaklawn, winning the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3), finishing third in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) and second in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1). All three races were 1 1/16 miles.

After a blowout victory in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 5, Nitrogen finished second against males in the Whitney Stakes (G1) Aug. 8. Both 1 1/8 races were at Saratoga.

Regular rider Jose Ortiz is named to ride Nitrogen from post 4 in the projected five-horse field. All starters carry 126 pounds.

Majestic Oops (#1) and Om N Joy (#4), third and fifth, respectively, in the Apple Blossom are entered in the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 1/16 miles Sunday at Santa Anita. The Zenyatta is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Millionaire Majestic Oops scored her biggest career victory to date in the Azeri, when she held off Regaled by three-quarters of a length. Nitrogen finished a length farther back in third.

What’s New?

The speedy Nu What’s New (#8, 3/1) is among four Oaklawn-raced horses entered in the Ack Ack Stakes (G3) Saturday at Churchill Downs. The Ack Ack is for 3-year-olds and up at 1 mile.

Nu What’s New won three races last season at Oaklawn, including the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) for trainer Jimmy DiVito. Nu What’s New (3-1 in the program) is a candidate for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

The Ack Ack also drew Oaklawn Mile runner-up East Avenue (#7, 4/1), millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Coal Battle (#6, 8/1) and millionaire Oaklawn stakes winner Bishops Bay (#4, 9/5), the program favorite.

Saturday’s feature at Churchill Downs is the Lukas Classic (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.

The Lukas Classic has seven entrants, including millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Banishing (#4, 6/1), Oaklawn debut winner This Is Uscar (#1, 8/1) and Oaklawn-raced Tiztastic (#3, 4/1).

Oklahoma Derby

Millionaire Oaklawn stakes winner Silent Tactic (#2, 5/2) is among 10 entrants in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) Sunday at Remington Park.

Silent Tactic was the only horse to go through Oaklawn’s four-race Kentucky Derby qualifying series in 2026, highlighted by a victory in the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. Silent Tactic also finished second in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) and the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1).

Casse was Oaklawn’s third-leading trainer last season with 23 victories, including a meet-high 10 stakes.

After missing the Triple Crown because of a reported foot bruise, Silent Tactic resurfaced with a third-place finish in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) Aug. 1 at Saratoga. Silent Tactic, in his last start, was eased in the Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 29 at Saratoga. Silent Tactic ($1,119,422 in career earnings) had never finished worse than third in his first seven lifetime starts.

Silent Tactic is scheduled to be reunited with two-time Oaklawn leading rider Cristian Torres in the Oklahoma Derby, a 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-olds. All starters carry 124 pounds.

Other Oaklawn-raced horses entered in the Oklahoma Derby are J J Grey (#3, 5/1), Chad Allan (#7, 30/1), Crupper (#8, 15/1) and Vintage Cowboy (#10, 10/1).

Crupper and Chad Allan ran 1-2, respectively, in the $200,000 Bathhouse Row Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles last April at Oaklawn.

In other stakes races Sunday at Remington Park, Oaklawn-raced Rileytole (#4, 5/2) is entered in the Remington Park Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles and multiple Oaklawn allowance winner Hola Joey (#7, 4/1) and Oaklawn-raced Heavenville (#3, 2/1) and Perfect Magic (#2, 12/1) are entered in the David M. Vance for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs.

Finish Lines



Oaklawn allowance winner Forged Steel (#7, 5/1), Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Caldera (#8, 5/1) and Oaklawn-raced Original Sin (#4, 6/1) are entered in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Santa Anita. The Goodwood is a “Win and You’re In” for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. … Oaklawn-raced Paradise City (#4, 10/1), Beauty Reigns (#6, 3/1) and Queen Jubilee (#3, 15/1) are entered in the Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 6 ½ furlongs Saturday at Belmont Park. … Oaklawn-raced Senior Officer (#3, 5/2) and Doc Sullivan (#4, 8/1) are entered in the Vosburg Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 7 furlongs Saturday at Belmont Park. The Vosburg is a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. … Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Nerazurri (#8, 6/1), Oaklawn allowance winner Miss Authentic (#11, 10/1) and Oaklawn-raced Regaled (#4, 7/2), Take Charge Omaha (#10, 10/1) and Kinzie Queen (#2, 20/1) are entered in the Delaware Handicap (G3) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Delaware Park. … Millionaire Oaklawn allowance winner Bendoog (#5, 9/5) and Oaklawn starter-allowance winner Cooke Creek (#4, 8/1) are entered in the Battery Park Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Delaware Park. … Oaklawn-raced Blackout Time (#2, 6/1) is entered in the Bourbon Flight Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Churchill Downs.