5/21/26 Barn Notes

Compiled by Robert Yates

Powerful Oaklawn stakes winner Desert Gate is the 2-5 program favorite for the $300,000 Texas Derby for 3-year-olds Monday at Lone Star Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Texas Derby goes as the eighth of 12 races, with probable post time 4:55 p.m. (Central). The card features six stakes races, including the Steve Sexton Mile (G3).

Desert Gate hasn’t started since a front-running 9 ¾-length victory in the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 mile March 26 at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Desert Gate, a son of 2019 Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach, was one of the country’s top 2-year-olds after winning the Best Pal Stakes (G3) and finishing second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and American Pharoah Stakes (G1).

Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to ride Desert Gate for the first time in the Texas Derby, which drew a field of six. All starters carry 124 pounds.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has three entrants, including Oaklawn-raced maiden Maximum Effort (4-1) and Vintage Cowboy (12-1). Chad Allan (6-1) exits a runner-up finish in the $200,000 Bathhouse Row Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles April 18 at Oaklawn for trainer Robert Young.

Seven Oaklawn-raced horses are entered in the Steve Sexton Mile: Heavenville, Neoequos, Will Take It, Komorebino Omoide, This Is Uscar, Publisher and Heroic Move. The Steve Sexton Mile is the final race on the card.

Publisher (3-1) won the $135,000 American Pharoah Overnight Stakes March 28 at Oaklawn for Asmussen and exits a fourth-place finish behind White Abarrio, reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and Journalism in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles April 18.

Neoequos and Will Take It finished third and fifth, respectively, in the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) March 28. Will Take It won the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes at 1 mile Feb. 5 at Oaklawn.

Komorebino Omoide broke his maiden in 2024 at Oaklawn and won the 2025 Steve Sexton Mile under Ramon Vazquez, who has the return call Monday. Vazquez was Oaklawn’s leading rider this season. This Is Uscar and Heroic Move were second and third, respectively, in last year’s Steve Sexton Mile.

In other stakes races Monday at Lone Star Park involving Oaklawn-raced horses, Surveillance, Let's Go Mark, Kavod and Usually Wrong are entered in the Chamberlain Bridge for 3-year-olds and up at 5 furlongs on the turf; Kavod, Surveillance, Dancin for Gold, Master Mule, Blue Light, Booth and Mikel W are entered in the Speightstown Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs; and Fantastical is entered in the Ouija Board Distaff for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 mile on the turf.

The Winning Colors

Four Oaklawn stakes winners – Foie Gras, Zeitlos, Spring Dancer and Jersey Pearl – are entered in the Winning Colors Stakes (G3) for older females at 6 furlongs Monday at Churchill Downs.

Foie Gras ($135,000 Oaklawn Anywhere Overnight and $135,000 Bugler Overnight), Spring Dancer ($135,000 Majestic Overnight) and Jersey Pearl ($150,000 Poinsettia) were all stakes winners at the 2025-2026 Oaklawn meeting that concluded May 2. Zeitlos won the $150,000 Carousel Stakes in 2024 at Oaklawn.

The Winning Colors also drew Dare to Fly, who hasn’t started since winning two allowance races earlier this year at Oaklawn for trainer Phil D’Amato. Dare to Fly was purchased for $200,000 in Keeneland’s April Horses of Racing Sale and transferred to trainer John Ennis.

Finish Lines

Arkansas Derby winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade returned to the work tab Thursday morning at Saratoga, covering a half-mile over a fast track in :49.80 for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Renegade is pointing for the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, June 6 at Saratoga. … Oaklawn allowance winner Forged Steel and Oaklawn-raced Subsanador are entered in the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles Monday at Santa Anita. … Oaklawn-raced Om N Joy is entered in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 mile on the turf Saturday at Santa Anita. … Amir Mendoza, Oaklawn’s champion apprentice jockey this season, has received a 53-day extension of his apprentice weight allowance following a recent ruling by stewards of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. Mendoza’s apprentice allowance now runs through July 8, according to the ruling. Mendoza was originally scheduled to lose his 5-pound weight allowance May 17, Arkansas state steward James Lages said. But Mendoza’s agent, Joe Santos, asked Kentucky stewards for an extension because of injuries that had kept the jockey from riding in his native Panama, where he collected 35 victories before arriving in the United States last November. Mendoza’s apprentice certificate was issued in Kentucky, Lages said. Mendoza, 21, made his debut at the Churchill Downs fall meet and won 34 races this season at Oaklawn to tie for seventh in the standings.