Haulin Ice on track for Derby City Distaff

Haulin Ice is on schedule to make her next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Wednesday. The seven-furlong race for fillies and mares is May 3.

“She’s going to work Friday and all being well, we’ll probably take a chance in the Grade 1,” Joseph said.

Haulin Ice is based at Palm Meadows in South Florida. She is the reigning Arkansas-bred of the year and is coming off a win in the $250,000 Matron at Oaklawn. For her effort in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares she earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

◗ Raymond tied Payne atop the winningest horse of the meet standings at Oaklawn last Sunday, when he won an allowance to improve his record this meet to 4 for 4. Payne has gone 4 for 6 during the current meet that runs through May 3.

◗ There have been 335 claims for $6,927,500 in transactions among stables so far this meet, according to figures provided by Oaklawn.

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