2026.11.10 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, Nov 10, 2026

Oaklawn-raced 3-year-old fillies continue to flourish since the 2025-2026 meeting ended last May.

The latest is Tap to Open, who scored her biggest career victory to date in the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G2) Saturday at Belmont Park for Oaklawn training regular Brad Cox and breeder/owner Whisper Hill Farm (Mandy Pope).

Tap to Open, who was ridden by Manny Franco, was a 3 ¼-length winner of the Mother Goose, a 1 1/16-race that drew two other Oaklawn-raced runners in Tahlequah and Bodacious Bay for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. They finished third and fourth, respectively, in the Mother Goose. The winning time over a fast track was 1:41.72.

Tap to Open ($12.72) won for the fourth time in her last five starts. The daughter of Tapit has a 4-1-1 record from eight starts overall and earnings of $500,343. All eight starts have come in 2026.

Tap to Open is a full sister to Charge It, who finished fifth for Pope as the favorite in the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses in 2023 at Oaklawn.

Tahlequah and Tap to Open finished 1-2, respectively, in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight event last April at Oaklawn.

Bodacious Bay made her career debut last April at Oaklawn for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, finishing second in a maiden special weight sprint. After running second in the Monmouth Oaks (G3) in July at Monmouth Park, Bodacious Bay was privately purchased and sent to the south Florida-based Joseph.

Bodacious Bay, in her first start for her new connections, was a 3 ¼-length winner of the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) Sept. 19 at Parx.

Tap to Open won the Cathryn Sophia Stakes Aug. 18 at Parx before finishing fourth in the Cotillion. Both races were 1 1/16 miles.

Other Oaklawn-raced 3-year-old fillies to shine nationally since the 2025-2026 meeting ended include Counting Stars, Explora and My Gun’s Loaded.

Counting Stars, a leading candidate for an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion 3-year-old filly, won the Acorn Stakes (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga. Explora won the Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. My Guns Loaded won the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

Counting Stars won the $1 million Fantasy Stakes (G2) last March at Oaklawn. Explora and Counting Stars also finished 1-2, respectively, in the $750,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3), Oaklawn’s final major Fantasy prep.



My Gun’s Loaded debuted at Oaklawn in December 2025. She is unbeaten in her last three starts.

Finish Lines

Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Viking ($9.56) and multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Tejano Twist finished first and third, respectively, in the Bet On Sunshine Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs Saturday at Churchill Downs. … Oaklawn-raced Beauty Reigns ($7.46) won the Pumpkin Pie Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 7 furlongs Saturday at Belmont Park. … Oaklawn maiden special weight/allowance winner Kupuna finished second in the River City Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Saturday at Churchill Downs. … Oaklawn-raced Reagan’s Flame finished third in the Bessarabian Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 7 furlongs Saturday at Woodbine.