5/7/2026 Barn Notes
Compiled by Robert Yates
Jockey Francisco Arrieta was money during Oaklawn’s 2025-2026 meeting that ended Saturday.
Arrieta led all riders in purse earnings ($6,015,776), according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization, and set a single-season Oaklawn record for stakes victories (12). The late Garrett Gomez set the previous record (10) during the 1994 meeting. Gomez was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2017.
Arrieta tied Gomez with a victory aboard Counting Stars for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in the $1 million Fantasy (G2) March 27, then broke the record aboard Spring Dancer for trainer Randy Morse in the $135,000 Majestic Overnight April 26. Arrieta recorded his 12th stakes victory aboard Willy D’s for trainer Mike Maker in Saturday’s $200,000 Lake Ouachita.
“That’s amazing,” Arrieta said moments after the Lake Ouachita. “Thanks to my agent (Kevin Meyocks) and thanks to all the trainers that gave me the opportunity.”
Arrieta also won the $135,000 Astral Spa Overnight Stakes Dec. 14 aboard Counting Stars, $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes Dec. 21 aboard Jersey Pearl for trainer Darrin Miller, $150,000 Year’s End Stakes Dec. 27 aboard Counting Stars, $150,000 American Beauty Stakes Feb. 13 aboard Majestic Oops for trainer Dan Ward, $150,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes Feb. 20 aboard Haulin Ice for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., $150,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes Feb. 21 aboard Touchdown Arkansas for trainer Tom Van Berg, $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 7 aboard Majestic Oops, $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) March 14 aboard Tejano Twist for trainer Chris Hartman and the $250,000 Matron Stakes March 27 aboard Haulin Ice.
The $6,015,776 in purse earnings marked a single-season Oaklawn best for Arrieta, who began riding in Hot Springs in 2021 and won nine stakes races in 2024-2025. The Fantasy was his most lucrative career victory to date.
Arrieta was Oaklawn’s co-leading rider in 2021-2022, topped the standings again in 2024-2025 and finished second this season. Arrieta said he plans to be based this summer in Kentucky.
Oaklawn ran a single-season record 59 stakes races during the 2025-2026 meeting.
Finish Lines
Oaklawn ran 627 races during the 2025-2026 meeting that ended Saturday, with 547, or 87.2 percent, run over a fast track. … Heavily favored Doublecents ($3.20) received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 96 for his front-running 11 ½-length victory in Saturday’s eighth race, a $125,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. Owner Danny Keene purchased the son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents for $120,000 at the 2025 Texas Thoroughbred Association Two-Year-Old in training sale. Ramon Vazquez rode Doublecents for trainer Brett Creighton. The winning time over a fast track was 1:09.42. Doublecents, in his career debut, ran second behind Munnings Challenge April 11. … Arkansas-bred 3-year-old Instamania is receiving a 90-day break before returning to Oaklawn for the 2026-2027 meeting that is scheduled begin Nov. 27, trainer Tom Van Berg said Saturday. Instamania, as a maiden, finished second, beaten a nose, in the $150,000 Rainbow Stakes April 4. Instamania returned to break his maiden by 13 ¼ lengths April 18. Both state-bred races were six furlongs. Van Berg trains Instamania, a son of Instagrand, for breeder/co-owner Lewis Mathews. … Oaklawn-raced Dazzling Move is entered in the $200,000 Ruffian Stakes (G2) Stakes for older fillies and mares at one mile Saturday at Aqueduct. … Oaklawn allowance winner Durante is entered in the $175,000 John A. Nerud Stakes (G3) for older horses at six furlongs Saturday at Aqueduct. … Oaklawn-raced Clocker Special and Bricklin are entered in the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes for 3-year-olds at one-mile and 70 yards Sunday at Monmouth Park.
