2026.10.29 Oaklawn Racing Update

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing

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

Thursday, Oct 29, 2026

Twenty Oaklawn-raced horses were pre-entered in the 43rd annual Breeders’ Cup World Championships Friday-Saturday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. All 20 are scheduled to start following Monday’s entry deadline and post-position draw.

Pre-entries were released Oct. 21 for the 14 Grade 1 races, including five for 2-year-olds Friday. Oaklawn-raced horses are entered in six of the nine races Saturday, including 6-5 program favorite Nitrogen in the $2 million Distaff at 1 1/8 miles and reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (5-2) and Magnitude (6-1) in the $7 million Classic at 1 ¼ miles.

Probable post time for the Distaff, the 10th race, is 3:58 p.m. (Central). Probable post time for the Classic, the 12th race, is 5:16 p.m.

Nitrogen finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff en route to an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion 3-year-old filly.

Nitrogen made her first three starts this year at Oaklawn, winning the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) in February, finishing third in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) in March and second in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) in April.

Regular rider Jose Ortiz has the mount on Nitrogen, who is scheduled to break from post 2 and carry equal top weight of 124 pounds. Oaklawn-raced Regaled (20-1) is also entered in the Distaff.

Nitrogen is one of eight Oaklawn stakes winners entered in the Breeders’ Cup.

Magnitude opened 2026 with a victory in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) last February at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Sovereignty, in his 4-year-old debut, finished second in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) last April for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Asmussen and Mott are Oaklawn training champions.

Eight of the 13 entrants in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint at 7 furlongs have raced at Oaklawn. They are: Look Forward (20-1), Praying (30-1), Foie Gras (20-1), Majestic Oops (15-1), Evanescence (15-1), Kerry’s Kiss (20-1), Simply Joking (30-1) and Explora (4-1).

Foie Gras ($135,000 Oaklawn Anywhere Overnight last December and $135,000 Bugler Overnight last February) and Majestic Oops ($200,000 Dig a Diamond in 2025 and $400,000 G2 Azeri last March) are multiple Oaklawn stakes winners.

Explora won the $750,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) last March at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile Honeybee is traditionally Oaklawn’s second of three major preps for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), the country’s biggest race for 3-year-old fillies.

Oaklawn-raced Shisospicy (15-1) is entered against males in the $1 million Turf Sprint at 5 ½ furlongs.

Shisospicy won the 2025 Turf Sprint (G1) en route to an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion female sprinter.

The $1 million Dirt Mile features multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Coal Battle (6-1) and Oaklawn-raced Full Serrano (10-1) and Forged Steel (15-1).

Coal Battle won the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes and $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) in 2025 at Oaklawn. The Smarty Jones and Rebel are traditionally Oaklawn’s first and third Kentucky Derby qualifying races, respectively. Full Serrano won the 2024 Dirt Mile (G1).

Four Oaklawn-raced horses – Hymn (15-1), Mad House (30-1), Roll On Big Joe (30-1) and Stradale (20-1) – are entered in the $2 million Sprint at 6 furlongs.

The speedy Mad House won the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3), Oaklawn’s biggest event for older sprinters, last April. Roll On Big Joe is a multiple Oaklawn stakes winner, taking the $150,000 Ring the Bell last December and $150,000 King Cotton last February.

Oaklawn-raced Breeders’ Cup entrants accounted for seven “Win and You’re In” events after the 2025-2026 meeting ended last May.

Earning automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup were Nitrogen (G1 Ogden Phipps Stakes/Distaff), Magnitude (G1 Stephen Foster Stakes/Classic), Sovereignty (G1 Whitney Stakes/Classic), Hymn (G1 Forego Stakes/Dirt Mile), Kerry’s Kiss (G3 Princess Rooney Stakes/Filly & Mare Sprint), Forged Steel (G1 Goodwood Stakes/Classic) and Evanescence (G2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes/Filly & Mare Sprint).

Forged Steel’s first preference was the Dirt Mile when pre-entries were announced. Hymn’s first preference was the Sprint.