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Will Rogers Downs presents a competitive nine-race card on Monday, February 2, 2026, featuring the $50,000 Highland Ice Stakes as the centerpiece eighth race. The thoroughbred meet, which opened January 12, continues through Kentucky Derby Day on May 2. The Claremore, Oklahoma facility hosts diverse racing conditions with maiden races, claiming events, and allowance competitions alongside the featured stakes contest. The Highland Ice Stakes was originally scheduled for January 19 but rescheduled due to weather conditions and returns as a competitive six-furlong sprint for three-year-olds and upward with Lasix administration prohibited within 48 hours of race time.
Weather and Track Conditions
Monday’s forecast for Claremore, Oklahoma calls for mostly cloudy skies with a high near 66 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures remain mild compared to normal February conditions, which typically range from 42 to 58 degrees. No precipitation is anticipated, and the dirt track is expected to be listed as FAST for all nine races. The mild temperatures and favorable weather should create ideal racing conditions, allowing horses to perform at their best without complications of off-track surfaces.
Track Bias and Post Position Statistics
Will Rogers Downs exhibits distinct post position advantages depending on distance. In six-furlong sprint races, inside posts 1-3 demonstrate measurable edges in win percentage by securing favorable early positioning into the first turn, particularly important in larger fields. For five and one-half furlong sprints, inside posts provide even more pronounced ground-saving opportunities, with the shorter distance emphasizing gate speed and early positioning. Route races at the one-mile distance favor outside posts 8-10, allowing horses to avoid early kickback while positioning themselves for sustained rallies. The track plays relatively fairly for all running styles when properly maintained, though certain tendencies emerge based on distance and field size.
Race-by-Race Analysis Summary
Race 1 – Maiden Special Weight (6F)
Post Time: 1:15 PM | Field: 7 horses
Key Contenders: Cool Okie (first-time starter from Young/Wethey barn showing 25% win rate), Moneymilitia (experienced with Trout/Cabrera, $41,800 earnings, fastest closer), Passed Promise (Offolter trainer with 27% win rate)
Secondary Choices: Maximum Power (Young trainee, first-time starter), Uniter (three-time starter with closing tendencies)
Pace Analysis: Moderate early fractions expected with Cool Okie and Maximum Power likely competing for early position. Race favors stalkers and closers against pace pressure.
Race 2 – Starter Allowance (6F)
Post Time: 1:47 PM | Field: 8 horses
Key Contenders: Outlier (Wethey/Young, won recently, rating 81), Big Muckity (5-2 favorite, won recently at course/distance, rating 97), Ben Diesel (Blatchford, inside post 1 advantage)
Secondary Choices: R Doc (Williams trainer), Go West (rating 90)
Pace Analysis: Contested early fractions expected with Ben Diesel and Big Muckity competing for position. Pace scenario favors stalkers tracking the speed.
Race 3 – Maiden Claiming (1 Mile)
Post Time: 2:14 PM | Field: 9 horses
Key Contenders: Major League (fastest closer, rating 94, $14,995 earnings, Triana/Johnston), Cowboy Cade (Quinonez/Lee, $42,240 earnings, mid-pack stalker), Code Eleven (Pusac/Davis, $115,218 earnings, fast closer)
Secondary Choices: Gospel Don, Gospel Up (Williams entries)
Pace Analysis: Extended distance favors closers positioned outside. Gospel Don and Crab Crunch could provide early tempo. Pace setup favors horses with late-running ability.
Race 4 – Claiming, OK-Bred Fillies/Mares (6F)
Post Time: 2:46 PM | Field: 8 horses
Key Contenders: Little Iris (2-1 favorite, Eramia/Craddock, $65,020 earnings, fastest leader), Gospel Cozy (Williams entry, won last at 6F, fast closer), Mystical Code (Hamilton/Biehler, $110,577 earnings, fast stalker)
Secondary Choices: Aunt Lottie (9-year-old with $96,566 earnings), Presleys Volley (Blatchford, inside post 1)
Pace Analysis: Little Iris likely to establish early command. Fractions expected around :22.2 opening quarter. Gospel Cozy and Mystical Code positioned ideally to track and rally.
Race 5 – Maiden Claiming, OK-Bred Fillies (5.5F)
Post Time: 3:13 PM | Field: 9 horses
Key Contenders: Eurpurdy (Wethey/Hanson, 4-1, third-place finisher in stronger race), Becky Is Sexy (8-5 favorite, Triana/Flores, placed in higher class, post 1 inside advantage), Ruby’s Posse (Wiseman/Hanson, consistent at level)
Secondary Choices: Gray Girl Gone (Young debut), So Whatro (Corderman/Cabrera, fourth career start)
Pace Analysis: Uncertain pace with multiple first-time starters. Shorter distance emphasizes gate speed and early positioning. Large field creates significant traffic concerns.
Race 6 – Allowance (6F)
Post Time: 3:45 PM | Field: 9 horses
Key Contenders: Guapo (3-1 favorite, Wethey/Young, won recently at course/distance, $64,800 earnings, 38% win rate), Vale (7-2, Triana/Loy, $380,505 earnings, fastest stalker, post 1 inside), Vestes (5-1, Eramia/Davidson, won last two starts, 26% win rate, 63% ITM)
Secondary Choices: Charming Tiger (Kimes/Ferrell, 23% win rate), Konawa (Diaz/Ziadie), Bourbon Life (220,650 earnings)
Pace Analysis: Competitive field with Vale and Vestes providing stalking options behind early pace. Moderate fractions expected around :22.0 quarter and :45.1 half-mile.
Race 7 – Claiming (5.5F)
Post Time: 4:12 PM | Field: 9 horses
Key Contenders: Devious Lover (3-1 favorite, Cabrera/Corderman, $54,360 earnings, 25% win rate, mid-pack leader), Big Kitty (7-2, Huckaby/Ashford, won last at course/distance, $127,035 earnings, 15% win rate, post position concern noted on scratch watch), Den’s Dynasty (6-1, Delorme/Caster, fastest stalker)
Secondary Choices: Mcmusic (Kimes/Silva, post 1 inside), Fastened (Blatchford/Stanley)
Pace Analysis: Speed duel potential with multiple early-speed horses. Contested fractions expected. Short distance emphasizes gate speed and tactical positioning.
Race 8 – Highland Ice Stakes (6F) – $50,000
Post Time: 4:44 PM | Field: 7 horses | Lasix Prohibited within 48 hours
Key Contenders: Wildatlanticstorm (2-1 favorite, Gonzalez/Ashford Jr., stakes winner last time, rating 98, $297K+ earnings), Mi Saturday (3-1, De La Cruz/Offolter, won last two starts, rating 95), Coalcowboy (12-1, Pusac/Abney, rating 87, post 3 inside advantage)
Secondary Choices: Rexford (highest rating 105, post 1 inside, Cabrera/Padilla), Stage Left (Wethey/Young, rating 95), Spankster (rating 105), Missin Hollywood (rating 90)
Pace Analysis: Competitive stakes field at six furlongs. Honest pace expected around :21.4 opening quarter and :44.3 half-mile. Wildatlanticstorm’s recent stakes victory positions him as legitimate contender.
Race 9 – Claiming, OK-Breds (5.5F)
Post Time: 5:11 PM | Field: 12 horses
Key Contenders: He’s A Rock (8-1, Goncalves/Williams, won last two starts, $158,261 earnings, 19% win rate, fast stalker), Bobwhite Bobby (7-2 co-favorite, Cabrera/Buehrer, $270,430 earnings, 15% win rate, fast closer, post 3), Da Chief (6-1, Triana/Flores, $97,444 earnings, 25% win rate, fast stalker, post 8)
Secondary Choices: John (Wiseman/Buehrer, 25% win rate, 88% ITM, post 5), Elusive Power (closer type, substantial earnings), In Bond We Trust (Davidson/Eramia)
Pace Analysis: Complex pace scenario with large field size. Multiple early-speed horses expected to contest. Traffic and trip become decisive factors. Contested fractions around :21.2 opening quarter.
Jockey and Trainer Notes
Leading Jockeys: Floyd Wethey Jr. dominates with 25% win rate and 56% ITM percentage. David Cabrera posts 17-24% win rate with 52-54% ITM. Alfredo Triana Jr. brings 15% win rate and 53% ITM over 145+ mounts.
Leading Trainers: Scott E. Young leads with 18% win rate and 44% ITM. Joe S. Offolter posts elite 27% win rate and 58% ITM. Steve F. Williams shows 11-12% win rate and 33% ITM over 85+ horses.
The Wethey/Young partnership represents the meet’s most potent combination, appearing throughout today’s card with Cool Okie (Race 1), Outlier (Race 2), Eurpurdy (Race 5), Guapo (Race 6), and Stage Left (Race 8). The Triana/Young combination also shows strength with Vale (Race 6), Becky Is Sexy (Race 5), and Da Chief (Race 9). Cabrera’s 24% win rate combined with his presence aboard multiple favorites suggests strong form at the current meet.
