Natural State Breeders' Stakes Recap 2026
Compiled by Robert Yates
Contact: Chris Ho, Vice President of Marketing, cho@oaklawn.com, 501-623-4411 ext. 4201
Saturday, April 30, 2025
Photo Credit: Coady Media
QUEEN MALLARD - Natural State Breeders' Stakes - 5th Running
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oaklawn Stakes Race Recaps
$150,000 Natural State Breeders' Stakes
Queen Mallard, under confident handling from jockey Keith Asmussen, took command on the outside turning for home and posted a 2 ¼-length victory over Walk Away Kaye in the $150,000 Natural State Breeders’ Stakes Thursday afternoon at Oaklawn.
The victory in the one-mile race for accredited Arkansas-bred fillies and mares, 3 and up, was the second on the card for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs and his 397th overall at Oaklawn. Moquett, the seventh-winningest trainer in Oaklawn history, conditions Queen Mallard for her breeder, William S. Sparks, a Monroe, La., automobile dealer.
Asmussen, Moquett and Sparks teamed to win the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship Stakes – the most lucrative event for accredited Arkansas-breds – last year with One Ten Stadium, Queen Mallard’s older full brother.
Walk Away Kaye, in her two-turn debut, finished 2 ¼ lengths ahead of defending champion Lassie My Girl, who was followed, in order, by 2-1 favorite Appealing Addie, Principal Anita, Gold Strategy, Miss Macy, Caliente Star and One Way Or Another. Cur Non was scratched.
Lassie My Girl, shadowed on the outside by Queen Mallard, took the nine-horse field through a modest half-mile in 48:12. Queen Mallard, in hand, took the lead approaching the three-eighths pole and wasn’t threatened in the short stretch run. The winning time over a fast track was 1:38.29.
Queen Mallard paid $11.80, $5.60 and $4.60. Walk Away Kaye paid $4.40 and $3.40. Lassie My Girl paid $7.20.
A 5-year-old daughter 2015 Oaklawn Handicap winner Race Day, Queen Mallard raised her career earnings to $323,643 following her third victory from 11 starts. Queen Mallard was making her stakes debut after winning a state-bred allowance race at 1 1/16 miles April 12 in her previous start.
Racing resumes Friday at 12:45 p.m. CDT with a 12-race card featuring the $150,000 Bachelor Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters (Race 9, 5:32 p.m.) and the $200,000 Lake Hamilton Stakes (Race 11, 6:46 p.m.).
The 2025-2026 racing season closes Saturday with a 13-race card beginning at 12:15 p.m.
Natural State Breeders’ Stakes Quotes
Winning Jockey Keith Asmussen (Queen Mallard): “I was so excited that she drew the 10 hole, with one scratch, nine of nine. She’s wicked quick away from the gate. I saw Manny (Esquivel) sent his horse (Lassie My Girl) a little bit and I was excited that she could just sit off her for a quarter or something, so she wasn’t out alone. She jumped to her right lead and got so comfortable down the backside. Took two massive breaths and I was thinking to myself: ‘Oh goodness, they’re going to have a hard time catching me.’ Huge congratulations to Team (Ron) Moquett and Mr. (William) Sparks. They put a lot of trust in me and put me on some nice horses, so a massive congratulations to them.”
Winning Trainer Ron Moquett (Queen Mallard): “The owner (William S. Sparks) told me that she was a route horse from the very start, just like the brother. One Ten Stadium won the stake (Arkansas Breeders’ Championship) last year, so it worked out really good. So, the owner was right. I was wrong. Keith (Asmussen) is so smart. That’s the thing about those cerebral Asmussens. Just put them on and let them do what they do. From the time they’re born, it’s take pictures.”
