HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Batten Down made every turn a winning one Sunday when he conquered three of them for an 8 1/4-length victory over Catching Freedom in the $135,000 Pig Trail overnight stakes at Oaklawn Park.
It was another 5 1/2 lengths back in third Otello.
The Pig Trail, at 1 1/2 miles, was for older horses who have not won a stakes in 2025-2026. It was part of the Rebel Day card held under beautiful conditions, with the sun out and temperatures in the 70s. The infield was open for patrons.
Batten Down ($4.80) broke well Sunday and briefly tracked Otello before proceeding to lead the field through fractions of 24.03 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.04 for the half-mile, 1:13.02 for six furlongs and 1:38.52 for the mile. Batten Down finished with good energy to cover the distance on a fast track in 2:31.03.
John Velazquez rode the winner for trainer Bill Mott.
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“For an eighth of a mile I kind of kept him outside, tried to relax him, and then put him back to the rail and he kind of relaxed,” Velazquez said in an interview conducted by Oaklawn. “He was a little aggressive first time coming by the wire here. By the time we got to the second turn here, he kind of relaxed nicely and that was the point in the race he kind of came back on me and I felt more comfortable.”
Batten Down is a son of Tapit and the champion Close Hatches and races for his breeder, Juddmonte Farms.
Batten Downs invaded from South Florida, off a third-place finish in a Gulfstream Park allowance that marked his first out since April. He has now won 4 of 13 starts and earned $800,795. Earlier in his career he won the Grade 3 Ohio Derby.
The Pig Trail is a new race for the meet and is named for a winding stretch of road that leads to the home of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.
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