2026.09.29 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. 29, 2026

Nitrogen tuned up for the Breeders’ Cup with a front-running 2 ¾-length victory in the $250,000 Beldame Stakes (G2) Friday at Belmont Park.

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse was using the 1 1/8-mile Beldame as a stepping stone to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Nitrogen, who wintered at Oaklawn in 2025-2026, is seeking a second Eclipse Award (older dirt female) after being named champion 3-year-old filly of 2025.

Nitrogen, reunited Friday with regular rider Jose Ortiz, was never seriously challenged and completed 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:48.36. Nitrogen paid $2.10 as the overwhelming 1-9 favorite against four rivals.

A 4-year-old homebred for D. J. Stable, Nitrogen ($3,068,354) eclipsed $3 million in career earnings with the Beldame victory, her ninth in 18 starts overall and ninth in stakes company.

Nitrogen is by Medaglia d’Oro, who broke his maiden in 2002 at Oaklawn and returned the following year to win the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

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.

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

Talk Derby to Me

Casse and Ortiz teamed for another major stakes victory last weekend with Oaklawn-raced Silent Tactic, who captured the Oklahoma Derby (G3) Sunday at Remington Park.

The 3-2 favorite, Silent Tactic ($5) edged Zihnal by a neck in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds. The Oklahoma Derby was the second career stakes victory for Silent Tactic, who was the only horse to go through Oaklawn’s four-race Kentucky Derby qualifying series in 2026.

Silent Tactic won the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) and also finished second in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) and the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1).

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 entered the Oklahoma Derby after being eased in the Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 29 at Saratoga. Silent Tactic had never finished worse than third in his first seven lifetime starts.

Two-time Oaklawn riding champion Cristian Torres was originally named to ride Silent Tactic in the Oklahoma Derby, but Torres was involved in a Sept. 19 spill at Churchill Downs. Torres rode Silent Tactic in the Southwest.

Silent Tactic has $1,359,422 in career earnings for co-owner John C. Oxley.

Solid Steel

Oaklawn has now produced seven Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” champions since the 2025-2026 meeting ended May 2.

Forged Steel became the latest with a 12-1 upset in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) Saturday at Santa Anita. The 1 1/8-mile Goodwood was a “Win and You’re In” for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

Forged Steel ($27.60) finished 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Caldera. Both horses are trained by Florida-based Saffie Joseph Jr., who won five stakes races last season at Oaklawn and finished third in purse earnings ($2,320,287) after winning 9 of 22 starts.

Forged Steel made two starts last season at Oaklawn, finishing third in the $200,000 Temperence Hill Stakes at 1 ½ miles March 28 and winning a 1-mile allowance May 2. Forged Steel, in his next start, won was a 9 ½-length winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G2) May 25 at Santa Anita.

Other Oaklawn-raced horses to capture “Win and You’re In” events since the 2025-2026 meeting ended are Nitrogen (G1 Ogden Phipps Stakes/Distaff), Magnitude (G1 Stephen Foster Stakes/Classic), Baby Vino (G1 Haskell Stakes/Classic), Sovereignty (G1 Whitney Stakes/Classic), Hymn (G1 Forego/Dirt Mile) and Kerry’s Kiss (G3 Princess Rooney/Filly & Mare Sprint).

Finish Lines

Eight-time Oaklawn winner Payne surpassed $1 million in career earnings with an allowance/optional claiming victory Aug. 15 at Evangeline Downs. The 11-year-old gelding made five starts last season at Oaklawn, winning a sprint for $20,000 claimers April 10. Payne pushed his career earnings to $1,013,178 in his last start, a fifth-place finish in an allowance/optional claimer Sept. 7 at Evangeline Downs. Payne has a 16-15-10 record from 63 lifetime starts. … Oaklawn-raced Paradise City (#6, 12/1), Beauty Reigns (#2, 3/1) and Queen Jubilee (#4, 15/1) are entered in the Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 6 ½ furlongs Thursday at Belmont Park. … Oaklawn-raced Senior Officer (#8, 2/1) and Doc Sullivan (#3, 8/1) are entered in the Vosburgh Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 7 furlongs Thursday at Belmont Park. The Vosburgh is a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. The Gallant Bloom and Vosburgh were postponed from Sept. 26 because of heavy rain. … Millionaire Oaklawn stakes winner Bishops Bay ($7.68) edged millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Coal Battle by a head to win the Ack Ack Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 mile Saturday at Churchill Downs. … Oaklawn-raced Rileytole ($6.60) won the Remington Park Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles Sunday at Remington Park. … Multiple Oaklawn allowance winner Hola Joey ($7.60) won the David M. Vance for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs Sunday at Remington Park. Oaklawn-raced Heavenville finished third. … Oaklawn-raced Glengarry ($10.20) won the Dan Johnson Sprint Stakes for Iowa-breds, 3 and up, at 6 furlongs Saturday at Prairie Meadows. … Oaklawn-raced Won Happy Mama ($12.40) captured the Iowa-bred Classic Distaff Stakes for Iowa-bred fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 6 furlongs Saturday at Prairie Meadows. … Millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Majestic Oops finished second in the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 1/16 miles Sunday at Santa Anita. … Oaklawn-raced Misinformation finished second in the Charles Taylor Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 mile Sunday at Albuquerque. … Oaklawn debut winner This Is Uscar finished third in the Lukas Classic (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Churchill Downs.