2/7/26 Barn Notes
Compiled by Robert Yates
Blackout Time is targeting the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 1 at Oaklawn for his 3-year-old debut, co-owner Lance Gasaway said Saturday morning.
Blackout Time hasn’t started since a runner-up finish behind eventual 2-year-old champion Ted Noffey in the Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 4 at Keeneland. Blackout Time was entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Oct. 31 at Del Mar, but he was a regulatory veterinarian scratch because of an alleged soundness issue.
A son of red-hot sire Not This Time, Blackout Time returned to the work tab Jan. 23 at Fair Grounds and breezed two other times there (Jan. 30 and Thursday) before shipping to Oaklawn.
“We don’t need any (hiccups), but we’re doing good,” Gasaway said. “He’ll have his fourth workout here Wednesday.”
In addition to preparing for his 3-year-old debut, Gasaway said Blackout Time will be working to get off the HISA veterinarian’s list in order to regain racing eligibility in jurisdictions under HISA guidelines.
“Wednesday will be our fourth work and then we want to get two more,” Gasaway said. “So, that’s six works. He’s doing good. He worked five-eighths the other day and a half the week before that and he wasn’t even breathing.”
Prior to the Breeders’ Futurity, Blackout Time broke his maiden by 9 ¾ lengths at one mile Aug. 2 at Ellis Park. Overall, he has a 1-2-0 record from three starts and earnings of $210,691.
McPeek, as an agent, purchased Blackout Time for $210,000 in 2024 at Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. Gasaway races Blackout Time in partnership with Brookdale Racing and McPeek’s Magdalena Racing.
Gasaway, of Star City, Ark., is best known for breeding and racing 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in partnership.
The 1 1/16-mile Rebel is Oaklawn’s third Kentucky Derby points race and will offer 105 total points (50-25-15-10-5, respectively) toward starting eligibility for the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Blackout Time earned five Kentucky Derby qualifying points for his runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Futurity.
Super Sunday
Sunday’s fourth race, a $125,000 allowance for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, could spawn a starter, or starters, for Oaklawn’s final two Kentucky Derby qualifying races – $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 1 and the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) March 28.
A field of eight is entered, including 9-5 program favorite Honey’s to Blame for trainer Kenny McPeek and Our Magical Moon, the early 5-2 second choice, for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. Clocker Special (7-2) is entered for trainer Rodolphe Brisset.
Our Magical Moon exits a five-length maiden special weight victory at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 13 at Oaklawn. Casse said he considered Our Magical Moon, a son of champion Good Magic, for Friday’s $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) before opting for the allowance spot. Casse won the Southwest, Oaklawn’s second Kentucky Derby qualifying race, with Silent Tactic.
“His win was impressive,” Casse said, referring to Our Magical Moon. “Hopefully, he can come and do the same thing on Sunday. If that happens, that could put him right in the Derby picture.”
Honey’s to Blame hasn’t started since a sharp maiden victory against Arkansas-breds in a Dec. 13 sprint at Oaklawn. Clocker’s Special will be making his two-turn debut after concluding his 2-year-old campaign with a maiden special weight victory July 19 at Ellis Park.
Probable post time for the fourth race is 1:28 p.m. (Central).
Finish Lines
Oaklawn will race Sunday, which was originally a dark day on its 2025-2026 racing calendar because of the Super Bowl. There is a special first post of noon CST. Probable post time for the 10th and final race is 4:27 p.m., approximately an hour before Super Bowl kickoff. Oaklawn moved its Feb. 1 card to Sunday after losing three racing dates to last month’s winter storm. … Jockey Serafin Carmona recorded his first career Oaklawn victory in Friday’s second race aboard Patch O’Brien, who paid a meet-high $143.40 to win. Carmona rode Patch O’Brien for trainer Fernando Bahena and owner Odis Grimes Jr. … Ford’s Ma’am, an unraced 3-year-old half-sister to 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, worked three furlongs in :38.40 Saturday morning for trainer Kenny McPeek. The track was fast. McPeek trains Ford’s Ma’am for Arkansas breeder/owners Lance Gasaway, Daniel “Banks” Hamby and Brent and Sharilyn Gasaway (4 G Racing). McPeek and the ownership group also campaigned Mystik Dan. Lance Gasaway said Saturday morning that the hope is Ford’s Ma’am, another homebred, will debut at the 2025-2026 Oaklawn meeting. Ford’s Ma’am is by 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go. … Ma’am, the dam of Mystik Dan and Ford’s Ma’am, had a colt earlier this week by Into Mischief and is booked back to the super sire, Gasaway said Saturday morning.
