10/27/26 Barn Notes
Compiled by Robert Yates
He is one of the most successful claims in Oaklawn history.
Willy D’s pushed his 2026 earnings to more than $1 million with a gritty front-running victory in the $350,000 Fayette Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday at Keeneland.
Willy D’s finished a neck in front of Oaklawn allowance winner Stars and Stripes, with Oaklawn debut winner This Is Uscar another 3 ¾ lengths farther back in third.
Willy D’s was making his 13th start for nationally prominent trainer Mike Maker, who claimed the gelding for $50,000 out of a runner-up finish March 23, 2025, at Oaklawn. Willy D’s has flourished under Maker’s care, winning the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes later that year at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G3) last March at Turfway Park and the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes last May at Oaklawn.
After finishing fifth in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) last June at Churchill Downs, Willy D’s won the $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2) Aug. 28 at Charles Town.
The 1 1/8-mile Fayette marked the fourth victory in the last five starts for Willy D’s, a 5-year-old son of champion and Oaklawn stakes winner Lookin At Lucky.
Willy D’s ($18.02) was ridden to his Fayette victory by Hall of Famer John Velazquez. The winning time over a fast track was 1:49.56. Willy D’s carried top weight of 124 pounds.
Willy D’s, who is named for a downtown Little Rock, Ark., piano bar, has a 9-7-2 record from 30 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,734,021. Willy D’s has five career stakes victories – all for Maker – and also finished second in the $150,000 Tinsel Stakes last December at Oaklawn.
Willy D’s has made 11 career starts at Oaklawn, with the Lake Ouachita his first victory in Hot Springs. He also ran second in the $150,000 Advent Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters in 2023 at Oaklawn.
Maker won 15 of 64 starts at the 2025-2026 Oaklawn meeting.
Finish Lines
Officially timed workouts began Tuesday morning at Oaklawn in advance of the 2026-2027 meeting (Nov. 27-May 1). More than 30 horse recorded published workouts over a fast track. … Training hours are now 7 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (Central), with a surface renovation break at 8:30 a.m. … Oaklawn allowance winner Cupids Crush finished second, beaten a head, in the Perfect Sting Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 7 furlongs on the turf Friday at Belmont Park.
