11/13/26 Barn Notes
Compiled by Robert Yates
Record-setting multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Haulin Ice (#2, 3/1) returns to action Saturday at Churchill Downs in the $300,000 Dream Supreme Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 6 furlongs.
The Dream Supreme goes as the third race on the 12-race program, with probable post time 12:58 p.m. (Central). Numerous Oaklawn-raced horses are entered in the final nine races on the card, which is the 28th annual Claiming Crown. The Claiming Crown is open to horses that have started for a specific claiming price during a specific time period.
Haulin Ice ($1,307,300) is the leading accredited Arkansas-bred career money winner in history and an eight-time stakes winner. She is a four-time stakes winner at Oaklawn, sweeping the $150,000 Downthedustyroad for state-breds and $250,000 Matron in 2025 and 2026 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Haulin Ice became the first accredited Arkansas-bred in history to surpass $1 million in career earnings when she won the Downthedustyroad by 11 ¾ front-running lengths last February. Haulin Ice’s winning time for 6 furlongs (1:08.75) was the fastest for a female in Oaklawn history.
Haulin Ice is seeking her first victory since the Matron last March. She exits a third-place finish as the even-money favorite in Liberty Bell Stakes Sept. 19 at Parx. Haulin Ice (3-1 on the morning line) is scheduled to break from post 2 in the projected six-horse Dream Supreme field under Francisco Arrieta. A two-time Oaklawn riding champion, Arrieta rode Haulin Ice to her victories in the Downthedustyroad and Matron the last two years.
Oaklawn allowance winner Indy Bay (#5, 4/1), another Joseph trainee, is also entered in the Dream Supreme.
The Claiming Crown boasts nine starter-allowance races totaling $1.2 million in purses.
Its richest event, the $200,000 Jewel, drew a field of nine, including Oaklawn-raced program favorite Expect the Best (#1, 3/1) for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs. The Jewel is for horses that have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2025-2026.
Other Oaklawn-raced horses entered in the Claiming Crown include Raymond (#9, 5/1) and Concrete Glory (#10, 10/1) in the $100,000 Ready’s Rocket Express (started for a claiming price of $8,000 or less in its life) at 6 furlongs; Nerazurri (#5, 4/5) in the $150,000 Tiara (started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2025-2026) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf; Mad About Marie (#7, 7/2) in the $100,000 Glass Slipper (started for a claiming price of $12,500 or less in 2025-2026) for fillies and mares at 1 mile; Itzel (#7, 15/1)and Proprietary Trade (#11, 6/1) in the $150,000 Tom Metzen Memorial (started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2025-2026) at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf; Air of Defiance (#8, 6/1) in the $125,000 Rapid Transit (started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in 2025-2026) at 7 furlongs; Carolo Rapido (#5, 9/2) in the Jewel; and Funny Uncle (#12, 8/1)in the $175,000 Emerald (started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2025-2026) at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
Finish Lines
Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Nov. 20 for Oaklawn’s Nov. 27 opening-day card. The 65-day split season ends May 1. … Nominations close Saturday for three stakes races later this month at Oaklawn – $150,000 Hot Springs for 3-year-olds Nov. 27, $150,000 Fifth Season for 3-year-olds and up Nov. 28 and the $140,000 Oaklawn Sports Overnight for 2-year-olds Nov. 28. All three races are 1 mile. … Millionaire multiple stakes winner Coal Battle worked a half-mile in :50.60 Thursday morning for trainer Lonnie Briley. The track was fast. Coal Battle is pointing to the Fifth Season, Briley said Wednesday morning.
