Adverse Weather Puts Oaklawn Stakes in Limbo

Mother Nature is creating some consternation for track officials and horsemen over the status of the upcoming holiday weekend racing at Oaklawn Park that includes three graded stakes and features a pair of champions in Essential Quality and Monomoy Girl.

With weather forecasts for the Hot Springs, Ark., area calling for temperatures that dip into the teens with the possibility of snow or ice for the Feb. 13 and 15 graded stakes, Oaklawn has waived its policy of requiring horses to be on the grounds 72 hours in advance of a race. 

Oaklawn racing officials are expected to meet Feb. 10 to determine whether any or all of the Presidents Day holiday cards will be postponed and the stakes moved to a different date.

In the event any of the graded stakes are postponed, they would likely be moved to Feb. 20.

"We are working with horsemen shipping in about the weather. Our plan is to race this weekend but that can change. There will be a lot of discussion (Wednesday). Like everyone else with the weather, we are taking it day-to-day. We have horses and fans shipping in, so we have a lot to take into consideration," said spokesperson Jennifer Hoyt, Oaklawn's media relations manager.  "We've given horsemen a grace period with the 72-hour rule. Obviously Florida and New Orleans are warmer spots and this way if you want to train you can continue training in your backyard. You don't want to ship until you have to."

The slate of graded stakes that could be impacted by the adverse weather consists of the Feb. 13 $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) for 4-year-olds-and-up and the Feb. 15 duo of the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares.

The leading candidate for the Southwest is Godolphin's Essential Quality, the undefeated champion 2-year-old male, while two-time champion Monomoy Girl will be heavily favored in the Bayakoa. Both horses are stabled with trainer Brad Cox at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans and would have to be shipped to Oaklawn for the races.

The Oaklawn stakes are expected to serve as the 2021 debuts for Essential Quality and Monomoy Girl, who have not raced since capturing the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1)  and Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), respectively, during the first weekend in November at Keeneland. 

The Razorback features a trio of horses who have yet to ship into Hot Springs for the race in Mystic Guide for trainer Michael Stidham and Coastal Defense and Mr Freeze for trainer Dale Romans.

According to weather.com, Saturday's weather in the Hot Springs area will feature a high of 30 degrees and a low of 14 with a 21% chance of precipitation. On Monday, the high will be 23 degrees with a low of 15 and a 40% chance of 1-3 inches of snow.

"Ice is a bigger concern for us than snow," Hoyt said.