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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
La Cara, a two-time Grade 1 winner last year at 3 for Mark Casse, is nearing the first start of her 4-year-old campaign. She worked Sunday at Oaklawn, breezing five-eighths in 1:02.80.
“I am excited to get her going,” Casse said. “She’ll either run in the Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston or the Bayakoa. I haven’t decided yet.”
The Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles will be run Jan. 24. It is the richest race at Sam Houston.
Apprentice jockey Jeriel Catala climbed the ladder the old-fashioned way at Parx Racing. Working hard as an exercise rider, the 21-year-old Puerto Rican earned the trust of several local horsemen while struggling to make weight to become an apprentice. He had the reputation before he had the mounts.
“This work is very hard, so it’s important to respect the guys around you,” Catala said.
Paladin, 2 for 2 to start his career and a two-length winner of the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct last month, will launch his 3-year-old campaign in the $500,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 14, trainer Chad Brown said Monday.
“It’s a ways away, but yes, that’s my Plan A,” Brown said. “I’ve had success there going that route, at least getting to the Derby and running well.”
Sierra Leone, narrowly defeated in the Remsen, won the 2024 Risen Star before landing the Blue Grass at Keeneland and finishing second by a nose in the Kentucky Derby.
The Cherie DeVaux barn won with their two final runners of the most recent Fair Grounds racing week, and on the first card of this week, Thursday, DeVaux sends out the talented Louisiana-bred layoff filly named Prayforthewicked in the co-featured fourth race. But you could forgive DeVaux and her team for looking forward a bit further, since they are likely to be double-barreled in both the Silverbulletday and the Lecomte on the multi-stakes Fair Grounds program of Jan. 17.
