Two notable Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) contenders, local favorites Skelly and Vanishing, are set to lead the field in Saturday’s six-furlong, $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes for horses aged 3 and older at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The Ring the Bell stakes is scheduled as the 8th race out of 10, with an estimated post time of 3:52 PM Central Time. The race meet kicks off at 12:30 PM.
Skelly aims to match the record with his seventh career victory at Oaklawn Stakes and push his hot spring winning streak to an unprecedented 11th consecutive triumph. Skelly first made a name as a top sprinter by capturing the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) and Lake Hamilton Stakes during the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meet. In the current 2023-2024 Oaklawn Meeting, he added wins in the King Cotton Stakes, Count Fleet, and Lake Hamilton.
After placing 10th in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Skelly bounced back with a commanding 5 1/4 length win in an April allowance race at Oaklawn. He later dominated the Lake Hamilton on May 2, winning by 10 and a half lengths and covering six furlongs on a rough paved surface in 1:08.15, narrowly missing the track record of 1:07.80.
Despite this, Skelly has not secured a win in his last three races, including a sixth-place finish in the six-furlong Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on October 3.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen noted that Skelly, a 6-year-old gelding by Practical Joke, is at a critical point in his 24-race career due to persistent gate issues that have led to slow starts and hampered his early speed in recent races. Skelly will race with jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., starting from post four among eight horses in the Ring the Bell.
Asmussen emphasized, “It’s about staying out of the gate. It’s been around for a while, but now it’s coming back.”
Skelly’s ten Oaklawn wins have all been at six furlongs, with Santana riding for all those victories. He remains one win shy of the Oaklawn all-time stakes wins record held by Swift Ruler and Champion Whitmore, who each have seven.
Vanishing, with odds of 3-1, has earned $765,875 for trainer David Jacobson in the 2024-2025 Oaklawn Meeting, posting a five-race record of 3 wins and 2 seconds. Vanishing captured the December allowance race and the inaugural $145,000 Byerly Turk Overnight Stakes, both at six furlongs, and claimed the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) on March 29.
Vanishing also triumphed in the 6-furlong Jeff Hall Memorial Stakes at Ellis Park on July 20 and the 1 1/8-mile Charles Town Classic (G2) on August 22. He finished 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on November 1.
“He’s doing very well,” said Jacobson. “We’re starting all over again, just like last year.”
The favorite at 2-1 is Roll On Big Joe, trained by Bob Hess Jr. This horse recently won the six-furlong Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 1 by 4 1/2 lengths. Roll On Big Joe is also entered in the $250,000 Holiday Cheer Stakes at Turfway Park on the same day.
Millionaire Tejano Twist, a multiple Oaklawn Stakes winner, and Durante, another Jacobson trainee who upset Skelly in the six-furlong Aristides Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 31, will also race in the Ring the Bell.
Jacobson commented, “I have a strong entry.”
Rounding out the anticipated field are Second ID, Ghost of Midnight, and Spankster.
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Fan Take: This showdown between seasoned sprinters like Skelly and Vanishing offers fans an exciting glimpse into the resilience and competitive spirit that define top-tier horse racing. The outcome could shift momentum in the sprint division and potentially set new records, making it a highly anticipated race for enthusiasts and a boost for the sport’s thrilling narrative.
