9/10/26 Barn Notes

Compiled by Robert Yates

A Breeders’ Cup berth is on the line for several Oaklawn-raced horses in the $225,000 Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 7 furlongs Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Probable post time for the Princess Rooney, a “Win and You’re In” for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland, is 3:33 p.m. (Central). The Princess Rooney is the ninth race on the 10-race program.

The Princess Rooney drew seven entrants, including four Oaklawn-raced runners. The 8-5 program favorite is Simply Joking (#3) for Southern California-based trainer Michael McCarthy. Simply Joking, then with trainer Whit Beckman, Simply Joking finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) in 2025 at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile Fantasy is Oaklawn’s final major prep for the Kentucky Oaks, the country’s biggest prize for 3-year-old fillies.

Simply Joking exits a third-place finish in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles Aug. 1 at Del Mar. Simply Joking is cross-entered in the Locust Grove Stakes (G2) Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Saffie Joseph Jr. trains the other three Oaklawn-raced entrants – Anakarina (#1, 9/2), Kerry’s Kiss (#2, 5/2) and Indy Bay (#5, 3-1).

Anakarina was a “Ratings Handicap” winner sprinting April 4 at Oaklawn for trainer Dallas Stewart. Anakarina, in her first start after being privately purchased and moved to Joseph, won the 6-furlong Love Sign Stakes July 25 at Colonial Downs.

Kerry’s Kiss was a 1 1/16-mile allowance winner April 18 at Oaklawn before being privately purchased and transferred to Joseph, who is based in South Florida. Kerry’s Kiss is 2 for 2 (both sprints at Gulfstream Park) for Joseph, holding off Indy Bay in the Musical Romance Handicap June 27 and the Sheer Drama Handicap Aug. 15.

Indy Bay won an allowance sprint in 2025 at Oaklawn for Joseph.

Joseph and McCarthy have accounted for the last five runnings of the Princess Rooney.

McCarthy won in 2021 and 2022 with Ce Ce, an Eclipse Award winner and multiple Oaklawn stakes winner. Joseph is seeking his fourth consecutive Princess Rooney victory. He won in 2023 with Three Witches, in 2024 with Oaklawn-raced Soul of an Angel and last year with Haulin Ice, a record-setting Arkansas-bred and multiple Oaklawn stakes winner.

Ce Ce (2021) and Soul of an Angel (2024) are both Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winners.

Under the Twin Spires

Oaklawn stakes winners dot Saturday’s stakes-packed card at Churchill Downs, which includes the $300,000 Open Mind for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 6 furlongs.

The Open Mind drew Oaklawn stakes winners Benedetta (#5, 8-1) and Asternia (#6, 12-1), Oaklawn-raced Look Forward (#3, 3-1) and Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Modo (#7, 3-1).

The Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 6 ½ furlongs drew Oaklawn stakes winner Dreaminblue (#7, 8-1) and Oaklawn allowance winners Cat On Time (#4, 9/2) and Echo Again (#6, 20-1).

Oaklawn allowance winner Miss Authentic (#5, 20-1) is entered in the Locust Grove Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 1/16 miles.

Finish Lines

Stall applications for Oaklawn’s 65-day split season (Nov. 27-May 1) are due Sept. 25. The stable area opens Oct. 15. The track opens for training Oct. 21. … Trainer Greg Compton, an Oaklawn regular, moved to 18 for 43 this season at Delaware Park after favored Santinni ($3) won Wednesday’s first race. Compton is Delaware Park’s third-leading trainer this season and has 289 career North American victories, including 94 at Oaklawn, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. … Oaklawn maiden and “Ratings Handicap” winner Pink Ruby (#2, 3-1) is entered in the Ogletown Handicap for Delaware-bred or certified fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 mile and 70 yards Friday at Delaware Park. … Oaklawn-raced Kaboom (#5, 10-1) is entered in the Indiana First Lady Handicap for registered Indiana-bred 3-year-old fillies at 1 mile and 70 yards Friday at Horseshoe Indianapolis. … Oaklawn-raced Tracking Error (#5, 8-1) is entered in the DTHA Governors Day Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 mile and 70 yards Saturday at Delaware Park. … Oaklawn-raced Baytown Dreamer (#2, 20-1) is entered in the Branded Cities Vigil Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 7 furlongs Saturday at Woodbine. … Oaklawn-raced Fantastical (#1, 8/5) is the favorite for the Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Woodbine. Oaklawn-raced Queen Azteca (#6, 10-1) is also entered. … Blue Hill, an unraced 2-year-old half-sister to multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Quietside, is entered in maiden special weight races Friday (#16, 8-1) and Sunday (#1, 10-1) at Churchill Downs for trainer Kenny McPeek. Blue Hill, by millionaire multiple Grade 1 winner Bolt d’Oro, is a homebred for Arkansas lumberman John Ed Anthony (Shortleaf Stable), who also bred and raced millionaire Quietside. Anthony and trainer John Ortiz teamed to win the $500,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) and $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) in 2025 at Oaklawn with Quietside. Both 1 1/16-mile races were for 3-year-old fillies. … D’code, who ran the fastest 6 furlongs in Oaklawn history by a 2-year-old (1:09.57) in his career debut last December, worked 5 furlongs in 1:01 last Friday at Churchill Downs. It was D’code’s fifth published workout since returning to the work tab Aug. 1 at Churchill Downs. … D’code is unraced since an eighth-place finish as the favorite in the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds last February. The 1 1/16-mile Southwest was Oaklawn’s second Kentucky Derby qualifying race. … Two-time Oaklawn riding champion Francisco Arrieta rode a meet-high 21 winners at Ellis Park, which concluded its 25-day season Aug. 23. It was the first career Ellis Park riding title for Arrieta, who makes Arkansas and Kentucky his year-round circuit. Arrieta rode a career-high six winners July 18 at Ellis Park and led all riders at the meet in purse earnings ($1,484,028). Arrieta has 378 career Oaklawn victories. … Jockey Ramon Vazquez, Oaklawn’s leading rider last season, entered Thursday with 3,987 career North American victories, according to Equibase. Vazquez is now based at Remington Park.