Robert Yates

1 day ago | paulickreport.com | Robert Yates

First Mission has a guaranteed spot in the $250,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) May 16 Pimlico, but his team (breeder/owner Godolphin and trainer Brad Cox) has bigger plans for the 5-year-old son of Street Sense. A first career Grade 1 victory. “Absolutely,” Michael Banahan, bloodstock director for Godolphin, USA, said moments after First Mission’s two-length victory in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) Saturday at Oaklawn. “We tried last year. He was the favorite in the Stephen Foster.

4 days ago | paulickreport.com | Robert Yates

First Mission’s latest audition for a first Grade 1 victory was a smashing success. A homebred for famed Godolphin, First Mission took command in the final furlong to post a two-length victory over Banishing in the $1.25-million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses Saturday evening at Oaklawn. First Mission, the 7-5 favorite under Flavien Prat, covered 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in a meet-best 1:49.09.

6 days ago | paulickreport.com | Robert Yates

American Promise went fast in his penultimate workout for the Kentucky Derby May 3 at Churchill Downs. Really fast. Breezing in company with stablemate Bon Temps, American Promise covered seven furlongs from the gate in 1:25.20 on Friday morning at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. The colt was ridden by Nik Juarez, who is scheduled to ride the chestnut son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify in the Kentucky Derby.

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Robert Yates

Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Quietside is scheduled to work Friday morning at Keeneland in advance of her scheduled start in the $1.5-million Kentucky Oaks (G1) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles May 2 at Churchill Downs, trainer John Ortiz said. Ortiz said jockey Jose Ortiz will likely breeze Quietside after guiding her to victories in Oaklawn’s Honeybee Stakes (G3) Feb. 23 and the Fantasy Stakes (G2) March 29. Both races were 1 1/16 miles.

1 week ago | paulickreport.com | Robert Yates

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and Preakness (G1) runner-up Mystik Dan is pointing for the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes for older horses at 1 1/16 miles May 3 at Oaklawn, trainer Kenny McPeek said Sunday morning. Mystik Dan is seeking his first victory since the 2024 Kentucky Derby, when he edged Sierra Leone by a nose in the first leg of the Triple Crown. Mystik Dan hasn’t started since finishing ninth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.