A field of nine, headed by 7-5 program favorite Roll On Big Joe, is entered in the $150,000 King Cotton Stakes for older horses at 6 furlongs Feb. 8 at Oaklawn Park.
The King Cotton was originally scheduled to be run Feb. 1, but Oaklawn moved its Jan. 30, Jan. 31, and Feb. 1 programs due to a winter storm that closed the track for training for nine days.
Trained by Bob Hess Jr., Roll On Big Joe will be making his 2026 debut after completing a stellar 2025 campaign with a victory in the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes at 6 furlongs Dec. 13 at Oaklawn. The 6-year-old gelding won six of nine starts last year, including the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park, plus the Kelly's Landing Stakes (G3) and Bet on Sunshine Stakes, both at Churchill Downs.
Video: Ring The Bell S. (BT)
Roll On Big Joe, a son of Prospective, has bankrolled $751,925 off a 9-6-1 record from 22 lifetime starts. Southern California-based owner Rancho Temescal purchased Roll On Big Joe for $90,000 from the Gayle Woods consignment at the 2022 Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale. Rancho Temescal owns him in partnership with Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, White Fence, and Richard Hale Jr.
"He's a pretty cool horse," Hess said. "Excuses are losers, but he did have a few legitimate excuses for getting beat a couple of times that weren't really apparent. But I think I'm learning as we go along, and I think he'll be better for it."
Julien Leparoux has the return call on Roll On Big Joe from post 5.
Bourbon Bash, the early 3-1 second choice, returned from a lengthy layoff to capture the 6-furlong $135,000 Commodore Overnight Stakes for older horses Jan. 3 at Oaklawn. The 6-year-old gelding was making his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen after previously being with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas before the latter's death in June 2025.
"He's a horse that's run extremely fast races here in the past," Asmussen said. "Brian Coelho and John Bellinger, who own him (as BC Stable), obviously did the right thing with him. Gave him plenty of time, and he came back in training super. Good time for him to be in training here at Oaklawn, where he runs well and the purses are great."
Trainer Chris Hartman sends out two in the King Cotton: millionaire late runner Tejano Twist, who won last year's edition of the race, and Wendelssohn, who was a powerful 8-length winner of the $145,000 Eclipse Overnight Stakes for older horses at 6 furlongs last March at Oaklawn and two starts ago, victorious in the 2025 Thanksgiving Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
The King Cotton is a major local prep for the 6-furlong $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older horses that will be run April 11.
Oaklawn Park, Sunday, February 8, 2026, Race 8Entries: King Cotton S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Lips Say Bliss (KY) Cristian A. Torres 119 Robert Medina 15/1 2 2Gold Sweep (KY) Walter De La Cruz 119 John Haran 15/1 3 3Wendelssohn (KY) Tyler W. Bacon 121 Chris A. Hartman 7/2 4 4Bourbon Bash (KY) Joel Rosario 124 Steven M. Asmussen 3/1 5 5Roll On Big Joe (FL) Julien R. Leparoux 124 Robert B. Hess, Jr. 7/5 6 6Tejano Twist (KY) Francisco Arrieta 117 Chris A. Hartman 10/1 7 7Frost Free (KY) Jaime A. Torres 117 Brett Creighton 20/1 8 8Tough Catch (KY) Luis Saez 117 Dallas Stewart 12/1 9 9Durante (KY) Ramon A. Vazquez 117 David Jacobson 20/1
