Extra! Extra! Chester Thomas’ Mr. Big News takes Oaklawn Stakes at 46-1

Oaklawn Park stakes recap

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Saturday, April 11, 2020) – Mr. Big News, owned by Chester Thomas of Madisonville, Ky., and trained by Louisville-based Bret Calhoun, made some big noise with his 46-1 upset in Saturday’s $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes and has now earned an automatic berth to both the $750,000 Arkansas Derby (G1) May 2 and $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at a yet to be determined date.

Unhurried early, Mr. Big News raced near the back of the 13-horse field under jockey Gabriel Saez while Gold Street, who overcame post 13, grabbed the early lead through fractions of :22 and :45 2/5 for the first half mile. In similar fashion to Tom d’Etat’s winning move in the Oaklawn Mile two races earlier, the winner came wide into stretch and easily collared the pace setter before holding off the late charging Farmington Road. Taishan, who had raced close to the pace, held on for third. The winning time was 1:49 4/5 over a sloppy track.

Gabriel Saez guided Mr Big News to victory in the Oaklawn Mile, a prep for the Arkansas Derby. Coady Photography pictures

“He warmed up good and was on the muscle,” Saez said. “He didn’t break as sharp as I wanted, so I just let him be, let him get into his own rhythm. When he hit the backstretch, he started moving and I said ‘OK Buddy. Go on with it.’ I kept track of the leaders. When we got to the top of the stretch, I swung him out into the clear and he found a different gear. He got the job done. I’m really pleased with that.”

Farmington Road and Taishan also receive automatic berths to the Arkansas Derby. Basin finished fourth and was followed by Shoplifted, Digital, Coach Bahe, Gold Street, Background, Something Natural, 2-1 favorite Thousand Words, who was fractious in the paddock and stumbled badly at the break, Flap Jack and Sir Rick.

Mr. Big News, by Giant’s Causeway, improved his record to 2-1-0 in six career starts and has now earned $167,053 for Thomas’ Allied Racing LLC. The longshot returned $95.60, $24.80 and $10.80.

“He ran a great race,” Calhoun said. “We’ve had a lot of confidence in this horse for a while. Kind of sick we didn’t get the opportunity to run in the Louisiana Derby. He loved the track, trained well there and I thought that suited him well. We didn’t know how it was going to work out today, with this different surface and everything, but he performed like we thought he would the last couple of months. I know he was a big long shot, but we’ve had quite a bit of confidence in him over the last couple of months. It was a great setup. It was very hot fractions and beneficial for us. Gabe (Saez) worked out a good trip for that horse. It was a trip that’s maybe not the best trip for a lot of horses, but it was the best trip for him.”

Calhoun said Mr. Big News will return Sunday to Fair Grounds. A definitive decision about a start in the Arkansas Derby will be made later.

Chester Thomas is a two-time leading owner at Ellis Park. His 4-year-old By My Standards won the recent $400,000 New Orleans Classic at the Fair Grounds in his first start since taking the 2019 Louisiana Derby.