Barn Notes 4/19/25
Compiled by Robert Yates
A prominent late addition to the Oaklawn jockey colony is laying the groundwork for a return next season.
Abel Cedillo, who owns riding titles in Southern California and northern California, began riding regularly earlier this month at Oaklawn after previously being based at Turfway Park. Cedillo, 36, notched his first career Oaklawn victory April 11 aboard Gewurztraminer ($7.40) for co-owner/trainer Cipriano Contreras.
Cedillo is represented by agent Jay Fedor, who booked mounts for 2021-2022 Oaklawn co-leading rider Francisco Arrieta before they split in early March.
“I was supposed to go to Keeneland, but he (Fedor) was like: ‘You know what? Let me bring you here for the last month and that way I can introduce you and then next meet, they’ll already know you,’” Cedillo said Saturday morning. “That’s the plan (to come back in 2025-2026).”
Cedillo’s sterling resume includes more than 1,700 career North American victories, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization, and more than $51 million in career purse earnings.
Cedillo posted his first career North American victory in 2010 at the now-defunct Golden Gate Fields. His major victories include the $500,000 Pacific Classic (G1) in 2020 at Del Mar and the $300,000 Gamely Stakes (G1) in 2020 at Santa Anita. Cedillo won the Pacific Classic aboard champion Maximum Security for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Cedillo moved his tack to Turfway Park for the first time in late 2023.
“I think it (California) is in the past,” Cedillo said. “I really love it here and I’m enjoying it. Thank God, I’ve been busy (in the morning).”
Cedillo said he will be based in Kentucky after the 2024-2025 Oaklawn meeting ends May 3. Pending approval by the Arkansas Racing Commission, Oaklawn will race Dec. 12-May 2 next season.
Finish Lines
Oaklawn will be closed for racing and training Sunday in observance of Easter. … Oaklawn is scheduled to race four days next week (Thursday-Sunday). Thursday was recently added to the racing calendar to help offset several lost days to winter weather earlier in the meeting. … Mystik Dan, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Oaklawn’s Southwest Stakes (G3) last year, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 over a fast track Saturday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Kenny McPeek. Mystik Dan again worked with stakes-raced stablemate Relampago Verde, who was credited with five furlongs in 1:02. Mystik Dan is scheduled to make his comeback in the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes for older horses at 1 1/16 miles May 3 at Oaklawn, McPeek said. … Mintastic ($31.60) represented Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s record-extending 990th career Oaklawn victory in Friday’s first race. … Trainer Lindsay Schultz recorded her 95th career victory in Friday’s seventh race at Oaklawn with Pink Ruby ($8.40). … Arkansas-bred star and multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Haulin Ice returned to the work tab Friday morning at Palm Meadows Training Center in south Florida, covering thjree furlongs in :37.45 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Barring any setbacks, Haulin Ice will make her next start in the seven-furlong $1 million Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares May 3 at Churchill Downs, Joseph said Thursday afternoon. A top two finish in the Derby City Distaff would make Haulin Ice ($688,100) the leading accredited Arkansas-bred money winner in history. Nodouble ($846,749), the country’s two-time champion older horse, has held the record since 1970. … Two-time defending Oaklawn riding champion Cristian Torres will ride Taxed in the Derby City Distaff, the jockey’s agent, Cody Autrey, said Friday morning. Taxed is a multiple Oaklawn allowance winner for trainer Randy Morse. … Jockey Nik Juarez said Friday morning that he will be based this summer in Kentucky (Churchill Downs and Ellis Park). Juarez, whose agent is retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, has been a fixture during the summer at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.
