Obliteration could be Saudi Derby-bound
Obliteration Does Just That In Winning Renaissance Stakes
From Oaklawn Park’s media notes by Robert Yates (Coady Media photo of Obliteration winning the Renaissance under Joel Rosario)
Grade 3 winner Obliteration could be headed to the Middle East following his devastating victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Renaissance Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said Sunday morning.
Obliteration, returning to dirt for the first time since August, coasted to a 7 ½-length victory under Hall of Famer Joel Rosario.
Obliteration ran six furlongs over a fast track in 1:10.03 to generate a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 90, just off his career-high 91 for a front-running 10 ½-length victory in the Sanford Stakes (G3) last July at Saratoga.
“He’s a nice horse,” Asmussen said. “Very proud of who he is. Very fortunate to have him and anxious for what he can get done in the future.”
Asmussen said Obliteration is under consideration for the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) at 1,600 meters on dirt Feb. 14 in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s one turn,” Asmussen said. “We were second in it with Cowan a few years back. Kind of a similar resume going in.”
Cowan finished second in the 2021 Saudi Derby after running second approximately a month earlier in Oaklawn’s $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at one mile.
Obliteration, first or second in six of seven lifetime starts, is co-owned by Texan Leland Ackerley, who also campaigned Valid Expectations with Asmussen. Asmussen, in 1996, collected his first career Oaklawn stakes victory with Valid Expectations in the $50,000 Mountain Valley. Valid Expectations soon thereafter provided Asmussen with his first graded-stakes victory in the 1996 Derby Trial, now the Pat Day Mile.
Obliteration ($3.40) was Asmussen’s record-extending 125th career Oaklawn stakes victory. He notched No. 126 later Saturday with Bourbon Bash in the $135,000 Commodore Overnight for older horses at six furlongs.
The son of the Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms stallion Violence, Obliteration won his debut at Churchill Downs, follwed by victory in Saratoga’s Grade 3 Sanford and a good second in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special. The $200,000 OBS March purchase’s next three starts came on turf — a second in the $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint, second in Keeneland’s Indian Summer and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) — before returning to dirt at Oaklawn.
Asmussen Eyes Return
Jockey Keith Asmussen began getting on horses late last month at Oaklawn in advance of his comeback, which could come during Oaklawn’s Classic racing season (Jan. 30-May 2) or at Sam Houston Race Park.
Asmussen, Oaklawn’s second-leading jockey in 2023-2024, hasn’t ridden since fracturing the right side of his pelvis in a Nov. 8 spill at Churchill Downs. Asmussen said there was no displacement of the bone and no surgery was required.
“It stinks any time you get hurt, but considering the timing of the break at Oaklawn it hasn’t really put a rush on things,” Asmussen said Sunday morning. “On my six-week mark, I got released to ride and I started getting on horses here. It’s been smooth for the most part. I’m excited to get on horses and be around the races.”
Asmussen said there’s no set timetable for his return. Sunday is the final day of Oaklawn’s 13-day Holiday racing season. Sam Houston Race Park opened Friday.
Asmussen frequently rides for his father, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who has horses at both tracks.
Finish Lines
Oaklawn’s 13-day Holiday racing season ended Sunday. The 51-day Classic racing season is Jan. 30-May 2. … Kentucky-based trainer Rodolphe Brisset had two winners Saturday, taking the first race with N Z Holly ($10.60) and the third race with Bricklin ($16.60). Bricklin was making his first start since finishing sixth in the Street Sense Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 26 at Churchill Downs. … N Z Holly represented the first Oaklawn winner sired by Yaupon, North America’s leading first-crop sire of 2025. … Favored Stiglets ($4.20) ran the fastest 6 furlongs of the 2025-2026 Oaklawn meeting (1:08.85) in a front-running 6 ½-length victory in Saturday’s 11th race. Francisco Arrieta, a regular on the Kentucky circuit, rode Stiglets for Southern California-based trainer Phil D’Amato, who has a string of horses in Hot Springs. … Grade 1 winners Sandman (Arkansas Derby) and La Cara (Keeneland’s Ashland) worked five furlongs together Sunday morning for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. Both were timed in 1:02.80 over a fast track. La Cara is scheduled to make her 4-year-old debut in the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 7 at Oaklawn.
