Wed, 01/07/2026 - 14:08

Grade 1 winner Iscreamuscream retired

Benoit Photo
Iscreamuscream, the 2024 Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks winner, has been retired and will be bred in Kentucky.

Iscreamuscream, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks in August 2024, has been retired and was sent to Kentucky to be bred earlier this week.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said an effort was made to race Iscreamuscream as a 5-year-old this year for the first time since the fall of 2024, but that a decision was made to end her racing career.

“She’s off to Kentucky to be a broodmare,” D’Amato said. “She didn’t quite make it back.

“It was a bunch of little things. Timing-wise, it was prudent not to miss the breeding season.”

Wed, 01/07/2026 - 12:32

Full Screen likely headed to Oaklawn for two-turn stakes

Susie Raisher / NYRA
Full Screen, winner of the Queens County, will likely start next in a stakes race at Oaklawn.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Full Screen, winner of the Queens County Stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 27, could make his next start at Oaklawn Park, trainer Brad Cox said.

With no two-turn stakes for older males on the NYRA circuit until the Excelsior at 1 1/4 miles in April, Full Screen could turn up in a race like the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Stakes on Feb. 28. There is also the General MacArthur Overnight Stakes on Jan. 30, though the $135,000 purse and the timing may not be ideal.

Wed, 01/07/2026 - 12:27

Trombetta giving maiden winner Crossingthechannel a breather

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Mike Trombetta is not going to be in a hurry to find out just how good a horse he may have in the 3-year-old colt Crossingthechannel.

Crossingthechannel, a son of Omaha Beach, hung on to win a maiden race by a neck on Sunday. He earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure, which was certainly respectable, especially when you consider he was running back three weeks after earning a 91 when finishing second to Iron Honor.

Wed, 01/07/2026 - 12:23

Rodriguez making the most of his second chance on NYRA circuit

Debra A. Roma
Jaime Rodriguez rode Bellezza to victory for trainer Miguel Clement in the Grade 2 Flower Bowl at Saratoga.

OZONE PARK, N.Y.– Success on the New York Racing Association circuit is a full-circle moment for jockey Jaime Rodriguez.

It was in May 2010 that Rodriguez, a native of Puerto Rico, recorded his first career U.S. victory aboard a horse named East to Eden at Belmont Park. Rodriguez, 34, is now up to 2,617 North American wins and has been a leading rider at Finger Lakes, Delaware Park, and the Maryland circuit.

Wed, 01/07/2026 - 10:54

Sam Houston planning to start early next season

Coady Photography
Sam Houston will seek to start its meet for the 2026-27 season in December, several weeks before it started the meet this season.

Sam Houston opened its meet Jan. 2, but next season, the track plans to start racing in December, according to Bryan Pettigrew, vice president and general manager of Texas racing operations for Penn Entertainment.

“We did apply for race dates in December of 2026,” he said. “We’ll start a little earlier and think it will be good for the industry here in Texas. Our target date is Dec. 11, and we’ll probably still run into April. We’re still kind of taking a look into that.”

Wed, 01/07/2026 - 10:47

Holiday meet handle way up; purses to increase during classic meet

Coady Media
Oaklawn averaged 9.78 horses a race over 132 races during the holiday meet.

Oaklawn announced that handle during the 13-day holiday meet that ended Sunday was more than $93 million from all sources, up from $73 million during the corresponding dates last season.

This season, there is a break of 26 days in January before Oaklawn moves to its classic meet, which runs Jan. 30 to May 2.

Attendance during the holiday meet was an estimated 104,250, according to the press release. For the Saturday cards, the track drew an average of 13,000 patrons.

Oaklawn averaged 9.78 horses a race over 132 races. Purses averaged $773,230 per card.

Wed, 01/07/2026 - 10:39

Casse quartet on course for Southwest, Martha Washington

Coady Media
Strategic Risk was a 4 1/2-length winner of the Smarty Jones.

Oaklawn Park’s program for 3-year-olds will ramp up when the Hot Springs, Ark., track returns from break at the end of the month. Trainer Mark Casse has some notable runners awaiting the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest Stakes and the $300,000 Martha Washington on Jan. 31.

Wed, 01/07/2026 - 10:39

Ewing pointing to Ozark Stakes for return

Barbara D. Livingston
Ewing rolled to an easy win in last summer's Saratoga Special at 6 1/2 furlongs. He is working for a possible start in next month's Ozark Stakes.

Unbeaten Grade 2 winner Ewing is working at Oaklawn in advance of the launch of his 3-year-old season.

Last year, the son of Knicks Go won a maiden special weight sprint at Saratoga by 12 lengths and came back to win the Saratoga Special at 6 1/2 furlongs in his most recent out Aug. 2.

Trainer Mark Casse said Ewing is being pointed to the $150,000 Ozark Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs Feb. 16 at Oaklawn.

Wed, 01/07/2026 - 10:37

Nitrogen could start 2026 campaign in Azeri

Barbara D. Livingston
Nitrogen could be seen next in the Grade 2 Azeri on March 7, followed by the Grade 1 Apple Blossom on April 11.

Eclipse Award finalist Nitrogen has returned to the work tab and is gearing up for a 4-year-old campaign that could be launched at Oaklawn Park.

“We’re looking at possibly the Azeri for her first start,” trainer Mark Casse said Monday.

The Grade 2, $400,000 race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles is March 7. It often produces starters for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap on April 11 at Oaklawn.

Wed, 01/07/2026 - 10:06

Rattle N Roll headed to Saudi Cup

Debra A. Roma
Rattle N Roll, winner of $3.6 million, finished fifth in last year's Saudi Cup.

Rattle N Roll is returning to the Middle East.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said the Grade 1 winner of $3.6 million is scheduled to make his next start in the $20 million Saudi Cup.

The race, which will be run at about 1 1/8 miles, is Feb. 14 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia.

Rattle N Roll won at the distance last out in the Tinsel Stakes on Dec. 20 at Oaklawn Park. He swept into the stretch five wide and won with his ears pricked to equal his career-best Beyer Speed Figure, a 101.