Weekend Lineup: Oaklawn Handicap Draws 11, Three Preakness Spots Up For Grabs

Saturday

4:44 p.m. - Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland

Bold Act (IRE) and Silver Knott (GB), two overseas invaders from the powerful Godolphin stable, top a field of 11 entered for the $350,000 Elkhorn for 4-year-olds and up going 1½ miles on the turf.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Bold Act returns to Keeneland, where he won the Sycamore (G3) last fall. After a nearly five-month layoff, Bold Act opened 2024 with a victory in the Dubai City of Gold (G2) at Meydan Racecourse on March 2 going about 1½ miles. Frankie Dettori has the mount Saturday from post 4.

Silver Knott, who raced most of 2023 in the U.S – compiling a record of 5-0-1-3 – returns to Keeneland, where he finished second beaten a nose in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Flavien Prat has the mount from post 11.

Also in the field is 2022 Sycamore winner Highland Chief (IRE) for owner Mrs. Fitri Hay and trainer Graham Motion. John Velazquez has the mount from post 3.

Elkhorn Entries

6:52 p.m. - Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park

Seven graded stakes winners are among 11 entered in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn, a 1 1/8-mile event for older runners.

Program favorite Skippylongstocking is trying to give Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. his first career Oaklawn victory. Although Skippylongstocking is a multiple graded stakes winner of $1,654,185, the 5-year-old by Exaggerator has never won consecutive races in his career. He exits a 2 ½-length victory in the G3 Challenger Stakes for older horses March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Late-running millionaire Red Route One exits a victory in the G2 New Orleans Classic for older horses at 1 1/8 miles March 23 at Fair Grounds for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The Gun Runner colt made four starts last year at Oaklawn, including three in Kentucky Derby qualifying races. 

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert seeks his third seven-figure victory this season at Oaklawn with Grade 3 winner Reincarnate, a colt by Good Magic. In his only start this year, Reincarnate finished third, beaten 2 ½ lengths, in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 ¼ miles March 3 at Santa Anita.

Regally bred Highland Falls exits a fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap, his stakes debut, for trainer Brad Cox and breeder/owner Godolphin. The 4-year-old colt is by two-time Horse of the Year and leading sire Curlin out of G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Round Pond – both multiple Oaklawn stakes winners. Highland Falls, beaten 2 ¾ lengths in the Santa Anita Handicap, will be cutting back to nine furlongs in his sixth lifetime start.

Oaklawn Handicap Entries

Sunday

8:00 p.m. - Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Veteran 5-year-old mare Desert Dawn will try and achieve millionaire status Sunday when she takes on seven rivals in the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Desert Dawn makes her third start of the year with a career bankroll totaling $974,525. In January, the Cupid mare kicked off her 5-year-old season with a win in the G3 La Canada going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. She exits a fourth-place finish in the G1 Beholder Mile here March 9.

A new face in the lineup is South American import Super Shine, who is also trained by D’Amato. Bred in Argentina, the 5-year-old Super Saver mare was a multiple group stakes winner and twice Group 1-placed in her native country. She makes her U.S. bow for owner R Unicorn Stable.

Coffee in Bed will look for an improved effort after never being a factor when sixth in the Beholder Mile. Trained by Richard Mandella, Coffee in Bed previously was beaten just a length by Desert Dawn when second in the La Canada.

Turnerloose, also trained by D’Amato, returns to dirt seeking her first win in California. She was previously a stakes winner in 2021 in Kentucky and 2022 in Louisiana while trained by Brad Cox. A 5-year-old Nyquist mare, Turnerloose arrived in California last summer and has made six starts, all in stakes. In her two most recent outings, she was third in the G3 Bayakoa on dirt at Los Alamitos in December and fourth in the G3 Wilshire at one mile on turf here April 4.

Santa Maria Entries