2/14/26 Barn Notes
Compiled by Robert Yates
Oaklawn’s biggest race for accredited Arkansas-bred 3-year-olds is the $150,000 Rainbow Stakes April 4.
The connections of Honey’s to Blame have their sights set much, much higher.
Honey’s to Blame will make his next start in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 1 for co-owners Kenny McPeek (Magdalena Racing) and John Holleman. McPeek also trains the son of champion Blame.
The Rebel is Oaklawn’s third of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races and will offer 105 total points (50-25-15-10-5, respectively) to its top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the first leg of the Triple Crown. The series concludes with the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles March 28.
Honey’s to Blame will be making his stakes debut after a neck victory over Clocker Special in a 1 1/16-mile allowance Feb. 8 at Oaklawn under Emmanuel Esquivel.
“We looked and I don’t think an Arkie-bred has ever won the Rebel,” Holleman said Friday afternoon. “So, I’m hoping we can make some noise.”
McPeek, as an agent, purchased Honey’s to Blame for $145,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s 2024 Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.
Holleman said he had the 2024 Kentucky Derby-winning trainer shopping for something to buy and McPeek landed on Honey’s to Blame, whose half-brother, Black Forza, was a Group 2 winner in Europe.
“I was there (at the sale),” said Holleman, a Little Rock, Ark., attorney. “We bought him together. We weren’t looking for an Arkie-bred, but that didn’t hurt that he was.”
Holleman said McPeek was drawn to Honey’s to Blame because of conformation, then was able to secure the colt for a “reasonable” price. McPeek is known for hitting home runs with horses that brought modest sums at public auction. McPeek purchased Curlin for $57,000 at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and Thorpedo Anna for $40,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. Curlin was Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008. Thorpedo Anna won the award in 2024.
“Kenny’s a master,” Holleman said. “There’s no one better in the world picking out these horses for reasonable prices.”
Honey’s to Blame has already bankrolled $161,200 from two victories and two thirds from five starts.
After finishing an even seventh sprinting in his July 19 debut at Saratoga, Honey’s to Blame ran third in two 1 1/16-mile turf races in New York before shipping to Oaklawn. He dominated Arkansas-bred rivals Dec. 13, breaking his maiden by 5 ¾ lengths at six furlongs.
McPeek said Honey’s to Blame had been under consideration for the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 3 at Oaklawn before suffering a minor physical setback. The 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones was Oaklawn’s first Kentucky Derby qualifying race.
“Next step is the Rebel and then, hopefully, the Arkansas Derby,” Holleman said.
Holleman, solely or in partnership, has five career Oaklawn stakes victories. Holleman recorded his first career Oaklawn victory as a sole owner when Bal Harbour captured the $200,000 Tinsel Stakes Dec. 17, 2022.
Other horses pointing for the Rebel include Silent Tactic and Strategic Risk for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse and Blackout Time for McPeek.
Ice Princess
Haulin Ice can reach another career milestone in Friday’s $150,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes for accredited Arkansas-bred fillies and mares, 3 and up, at six furlongs.
Haulin Ice ($998,250) is poised to become the first accredited Arkansas-bred to reach $1 million in earnings. Trained by Florida-based Saffie Joseph Jr., Haulin Ice became the leading accredited Arkansas-bred money winner in history with a victory in the Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) Sept. 20 at Gulfstream Park. Champion Nodouble ($846,749) set the previous record in 1970.
Haulin Ice is seeking her seventh career stakes victory. She breezed to a front-running six-length victory in the 2025 Downthedustyroad under Francisco Arrieta, who will be reunited with the 5-year-old daughter of Coal Front Friday.
“I’m excited to see her back,” Arrieta said. “She has so much class and heart. Glad those people gave me the opportunity to be on her again.”
The Downthedustyroad headlines a 10-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. CST.
Finish Lines
Oaklawn’s four-day race week concludes with Monday’s special Presidents’ Day program. Oaklawn’s baseball cap giveaway promotion is also Monday. First post is 12:30 p.m. CST. … For the second time in six days, a starter from the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar won a stakes race at Oaklawn. Ninth-place finisher and favored Majestic Oops ($6) captured Friday’s $150,000 American Beauty for older female sprinters. Champion Nitrogen, the Distaff runner-up, won the $250,000 Bayakoa (G3) for older females at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 7. … Ninja Warrior ($11.60) won Friday’s fourth race, the first ratings race in Oaklawn history. The six-furlong “Ratings Handicap” was for horses with a rating of 70 to 80, based on performance-related data compiled by Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Ramon Vazquez (the first of two victories on the card) rode Ninja Warrior for trainer Greg Compton and owner John Holleman. Ninja Warrior represented Vazquez’s 3,900th career North American victory and 490th at Oaklawn, according to Equibase. … Favored Tell Me When ($7.20) gave trainer H. Ray Ashford Jr. his 997th career North American victory in Friday’s first race, according to Equibase. … Miss Jeopardy ($7.20) won Friday’s seventh race to give trainer Genaro Garcia his 996th career North American victory, according to Equibase. … Unbeaten Taken by the Wind is pointing for the $750,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies March 1, trainer Kenny McPeek said. The 1 1/16-mile Honeybee is Oaklawn’s second of three Kentucky Oaks qualifying races.
