Oaklawn’s fourth annual race day exclusively for 2-year-old horses on Saturday drew 106 entrants, including several high-priced newcomers and siblings of record-setting Arkansas-bred horses. The event features a 10-race card, highlighted by a one-mile $150,000 Year’s End Stakes for fillies and five $100,000 maiden special weight races.
Since starting the all-2-year-old race card in 2022, following the addition of December racing to its calendar, Oaklawn has showcased emerging talent like Defining Purpose, a future Grade 1 winner, and Virgin Special Graduate Sun Thunder, who raced in the Kentucky Derby. American Promise earned his first victory at last year’s event before winning the Virginia Derby and competing in the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Kenny McPeek secured four winners in last year’s card and returns this year with two supplemental entries, Authentic Cat and Sticker Shocked. Trainer John Ortiz will debut Scots Row in stakes competition, a half-sister to Billionaire’s multiple Grade 1-winning Scottish Lassie.
The seventh race, a 6-furlong special grand prize for fillies, features Izzy’s Ganna Run as the 3-1 favorite. Trained by Phil D’Amato of Southern California, Izzy’s Ganna Run, a daughter of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, was bought for $635,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Notable debutants include Hall of Fame trainers Steve Asmussen with My Guns Loaded, Mark Kass with French Friction, and Tom Amos with Charted Destiny. My Guns Loaded, a Gun Runner offspring, sold for $650,000; French Friction, owned by billionaire City of Light, cost $250,000 and trains alongside La Cala, a multiple Grade 1 winner; and Charted Destiny, bred from millionaire G1 winner Tallis, sold for $525,000. Trainer Tom Amos highlighted Charted Destiny’s strong breeding and readiness despite tough competition.
Race 5 will mark the first one-mile special weigh-in for Arkansas-bred mares, featuring the local debut of See’s So Call. Trained by Lindsey Schultz and owned/bred by Eugenia Thompson-Benite of Sheridan, Arkansas, See’s So Call is a full sibling to Hollin’ Ice, a multiple Oaklawn Stakes winner and one of the top-earning Arkansas-bred mares. See’s So Call finished ninth in her debut sprint at Churchill Downs in November.
The races get underway at 12:30 p.m. Central on Saturday.
Fan Take: This annual Oaklawn event is a critical spotlight on promising young horses, giving fans early glimpses of future stars. It not only excites horse racing enthusiasts but also solidifies Oaklawn’s role in nurturing top-tier talent in the sport.
