Roll On Big Joe, who swept in from Kentucky to win the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes over opening weekend at Oaklawn, will be back, according to trainer Bob Hess Jr. The horse, who last weekend had been cross-entered in the Holiday Cheer on the synthetic surface at Turfway Park, won his fourth stakes of the year in the Ring the Bell. “We were looking at both races, at Turfway and Oaklawn, and kind of wanted to keep him on the dirt,” Hess said. “It all worked out. We had a good post and a clean trip, and it worked out nicely for him. I think he’ll continue to improve, and we’re looking forward to running him throughout the whole series there in Hot Springs.” The sprint offerings at Oaklawn continue with the $150,000 King Cotton on Feb. 1, the Grade 3, $250,000 Whitmore on March 14, and the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet on April 11. “Ideally, we’re looking at the next three races,” Hess said. “It’s up to the horse if we make all three.” :: Live racing action at Oaklawn Park! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Roll On Big Joe won his second straight stakes in the Ring the Bell. Earlier this year, he won the Bet On Sunshine and Grade 3 Kelly’s Landing at Churchill Downs and the Grade 3 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita. Julien Leparoux has been aboard for three of the stakes wins and has been part of the horse’s development this past year, Hess said. “I think Leparoux has been a big factor,” he said. “That and the fact we gelded him. It’s been a while, but we gelded him and he’s finally focusing more and just listening to the jockey better as a gelding. Horses develop in different stages . . . I think he just took a while to develop. “He’s a cool horse, loves his job. He’s a pleasure to work with.” Roll On Big Joe will continue to be based in Kentucky for Hess, who also races in Southern California. “I have little mini stable at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington,” he said. “We’ll keep six there, run a few at Turwfay, a few at Oaklawn, over the winter.” Hess said Lolo Le Plume, a 3-year-old stakes-placed filly based at Santa Anita, could see stakes action later in the meet at Oaklawn. “She’s a two-turn dirt horse,” he said. “If she can take a step forward, we’d love to run her in the series there at Oaklawn.” ◗ Arkansas Derby winner Sandman worked Friday at Oaklawn, going five furlongs on a fast track in 1:00.80. He is gearing up for a 4-year-old campaign for trainer Mark Casse. ◗ Oaklawn announced attendance for its three-day opening weekend was an estimated 36,750, with opening Friday drawing 15,000 patrons compared to 13,000 the corresponding day last season, and opening Saturday drawing 19,000 compared to 15,500 in 2024. Handle for opening weekend was nearly $21 million, compared to $15.5 million the last time Oaklawn had a three-day opening weekend, during the meet that ran from 2022-23. ◗ Jockey Lane Luzzi announced he is moving his tack to Sam Houston, which opens Jan. 2. Luzzi had been riding at Aqueduct. Earlier in his career, he spent time riding at Sam Houston. ◗ Jockey Harry Hernandez, who is coming off the title at Canterbury Park, will begin riding at Fair Grounds in the new year, according to agent Dylan Fazio. He said Hernandez arrives in New Orleans on Dec. 30. ◗ Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., announced its meet will open nearly two months earlier than usual, on Jan. 12. The 28-date Thoroughbred meet will run through May 2. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.