4/2/26 Barn Notes
By Robert Yates
Majestic Oops logged an easy three-furlong workout Thursday morning at Oaklawn, her final major move for the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares April 11.
Under exercise rider Talia Viscusi, Majestic Oops went in :38.60 during the special 10-minute worker’s only period immediately after the surface renovation break. The surface was sealed in anticipation of rain, but it was fast when Majestic Oops breezed.
“We were trying to find the best track to work her on with the (weather) forecast, six days from her last work, and then eight days to rest,” trainer Dan Ward said before the work.
Majestic Oops was breezing for the second time since her victory in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles March 7. She covered 3 furlongs in :36.60 March 27.
Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Saturday for the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom, which is a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
In addition to Majestic Oops, the Oaklawn racing department listed five other early probables Thursday morning – Claret Beret for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., Dazzling Move (Joseph), Nerazurri (Mark Casse), Nitrogen (Casse) and Om N Joy (Aggie Ordonez).
Nitrogen, North America’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2025, opened her 2026 campaign with a 2 ¾-length victory over Nerazurri in the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 7.
Nitrogen exits a third-place finish in the Azeri, which was the final major local prep for the Apple Blossom.
Zero Sugar
Zero Sugar has quite the resume for a horse with only seven lifetime starts.
Zero Sugar debuted with a strong runner-up finish in his February 2025 career debut at Oaklawn. Unfortunately for Zero Sugar, Cornucopian had an even stronger debut, drawing off to a 5 ¾-length victory in the fastest six-furlong maiden race for 3-year-olds (1:09.02) in Oaklawn history.
Zero Sugar resurfaced about five weeks later on the Arkansas Derby undercard and broke his maiden at 1 1/8 miles.
Roughly 11 months later, Zero Sugar recorded one of the fastest six-furlong times of the 2025-2026 Oaklawn meeting (1:08.76) in a March 1 allowance victory.
“It hate to say it was a fluke, kind of being in that race a few weeks ago, but we entered in a race going long and it didn’t go,” majority owner Staton Flurry of Hot Springs said. “There was a straight non-two (allowance) that looked like it was going to have a short field. He ran good against Cornucopian first out sprinting, so we decided to give it a shot and see what happens.”
Zero Sugar delivered a 1 ½-length victory, then returned as an odds-on favorite to win another six-furlong allowance race for older horses by 2 ¼ lengths March 19 for high-percentage trainer Cipriano Contreras. Zero Sugar’s winning time was a sharp 1:09.42.
Zero Sugar’s previous two starts at the meeting had been around two turns. He ran fourth in the inaugural $135,000 “The Coach” Overnight Stakes Jan. 2 and seventh behind the speedy Nu What’s New in a Feb. 5 allowance. Both races were 1 1/16 miles.
“I guess we’ve got a sprinter now after these two races,” Flurry said.
Flurry purchased Zero Sugar, a son of Twirling Candy, for $180,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in training sale. Zero Sugar has already bankrolled $305,479. He also finished second in his comeback race last year, the 1 1/16-mile Zia Park Derby Nov. 25 at Zia Park.
Zero Sugar is the first horse Flurry has campaigned with Little River Racing (Jeremy Stone of Hot Springs) and Californian Corey Smith.
Flurry said he expects Zero Sugar will run again at Oaklawn before its 2025-2026 meeting ends May 2. Flurry was Oaklawn’s leading owner in 2023-2024.
Finish Lines
After racing Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oaklawn will be dark Sunday in observance of Easter. … My Noble Knight, trainer Kinnon LaRose’s first career starter, finished fourth in Thursday’s second race. LaRose is a former assistant under Tom Amoss and taking over the retiring trainer’s stable. … Millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Tejano Twist worked a half-mile in :53 over a sealed, fast surface Thursday morning for trainer Chris Hartman. Tejano Twist is pointing for the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older horses at six furlongs April 11. Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Saturday for the Count Fleet. The Oaklawn racing department listed six other early probables Thursday morning – Booth for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, Gold Sweep (John Haran), Mad House (David VanWinkle), Maximum Bourbon (Phil D’Amato), Roll On Big Joe (Bob Hess Jr.) and Tough Catch (Dallas Stewart). Booth and Tejano Twist ran first and fifth, respectively, in last year’s Count Fleet. … Saturday allowance winner Hola Joey ($8.40) will be pointed to the $200,000 Lake Hamilton Stakes for older horses at six furlongs May 1, trainer Gene Jacquot said Thursday morning. Hola Joey, a 4-year-old gelded son of Adios Charlie, is seven-for-12 overall and earned $350,712. … Honeybee winner Explora was scheduled to return to her Southern California base Thursday morning for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who said she will train up to the Kentucky Oaks. Explora (fever) missed last Friday’s $1 million Fantasy Stakes (G2), Oaklawn’s final major Kentucky Oaks prep. … Riding newcomer Alexander Castillo recorded his first career Oaklawn victory in Saturday’s second race aboard Denali Lightning ($81.40) for owner/trainer Tim Martin. … Hot Springs native and noted Thoroughbred handicapper Randy Moss is this week’s special guest on “Oaklawn Raceday.” Co-hosted by Justin Acri and David Longinotti, director of Oaklawn Anywhere, the program can be heard Saturday from 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (Central) on Little Rock, Ark., radio station KABZ-FM 103.7 and www.1037thebuzz.com.
