(Hauling Ice wins the Matron Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Saturday / Photo by Coady Media)

From the Oaklawn Park Media Team / Robert Yates:

$250,000 Matron

She ran her way into the record book.

Haulin Ice took control shortly after the start and roared to a front-running five-length victory in the $250,000 Matron Stakes to become the leading accredited Arkansas-bred female money winner in history.

Haulin Ice collected $149,250 for the victory, pushing her career total to $688,100. Haulin Ice eclipsed the now-retired Connie K, who earned $620,612 in a 28-race career from 2021-2024.

The Matron, upgraded to listed status for its third running, was for older fillies and mares at six furlongs.

Haulin Ice ($8.80) had no trouble stepping back into open company after toying with her competition in the $150,000 Downthedustyroad Stakes for Arkansas-bred females at six furlongs March 1. Haulin Ice won the Downthedustyroad by six lengths. She nearly matched that margin in the Matron, which attracted five other entrants, including previously unbeaten Almostgone Rocket, the 3-5 favorite, and Oaklawn stakes winners Benedetta and American Band.

After breaking from post 6, Haulin Ice opened a clear advantage through a :21.98 opening quarter. Almostgone Rocket made a three-wide bid turning for home, but Haulin Ice had another gear and pulled away approaching the wire. The final time for six furlongs over a muddy, sealed surface was 1:09.31. That matched Wicked Halo’s winning time for the inaugural running in 2023.

Almostgone Rocket, in her 2025 debut and first start against older horses, held second, two lengths ahead of Benedetta, who was followed, in order, by defending champion American Band, Holly Dolly and Lady Moscato.

The Matron was the third career stakes victory and second in open company for Haulin Ice, who races for Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and co-owners C2 Racing Stable (brothers Clint and Mark Cornett), Paul Braverman, Miller Racing (Myron Miller) and Timothy Pinch. Joseph has a string this season at Oaklawn.

Haulin Ice made her first five career starts (all at the 2023-2024 Oaklawn meeting) for trainer Lindsay Schultz before being sold privately last spring and transferred to Joseph. He has a string this season at Oaklawn. In addition to the Matron and Downthedustyroad, Haulin Ice won the $75,000 Azalea Stakes at sevenfurlongs July 13 at Gulfstream

Park, which marked her second start for Joseph. Overall, Haulin Ice, a 4-year-old gray daughter of Coal Front, has a 7-3-0 record from 13 starts. Haulin Ice also beat open company in an allowance sprint Dec. 22 at Oaklawn.

Haulin Ice, who originally raced for her breeder, Arkansan Eugenia Thompson-Benight, was named the 2024 Arkansas-bred Horse of the Year by the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Horsemen’s Association.

Nodouble, the country’s champion older horse in 1969 and 1970, is the leading accredited Arkansas-bred money winner in history ($846,749).

 

MATRON QUOTES

WINNING JOCKEY FRANCISCO ARRIETA (HAULIN ICE): “Man, these guys are doing an incredible job with this filly. She was looking so good in the post parade. She was sharp. She was happy. I was expecting more speed in the race. I saw the 5 (American Band) jump better than me, but when she (Haulin Ice) hit the ground, she took off. I let her go. I didn’t want to fight her and I let her go. When she was by herself, she started doing it easier. I saw we went quick, but it was real easy. I looked at the screen (infield video board) and I saw I had a (comfortable lead). So, I knew I had it.”