The Fleet Sprint Handicap – (Grade lll)

Purse $500.000 – For Four Year Olds And Upward

6 Furlongs – Dirt

Oaklawn Park – April 11, 2026

As we all start to gear up for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, there is good racing at Oaklawn Park this weekend, including the 21st running of the Fleet Sprint Handicap. This race serves as an early look at who we might see in the Breeders Cup Sprint later this year. Over the years, no one has been more successful in the Fleet Sprint Handicap than Night Rider Stables with four victories. Chemical Burn delivered a record-setting performance in 2023, stopping the clock in 1:08.30—a time that still holds as the six-furlong dirt record at Oaklawn Park. This year’s field appears evenly matched, setting up what should be a thrilling and intriguing dirt sprint. Let’s take a closer look at each contender!

1. Chilled Niagra – (Maxmillion Farm, R M. Hernandez) After being claimed back in April 2024, connections found considerable success with this gelding on the grass. He won two graded stakes wins and four allowance wins in a relatively short amount of time. It was only his last start that Maxmillion Farm decided to try him on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs. It was a huge success as Chilled Niagra pulled away in the stretch to win by a length and was also just shy of the track record. This is a horse who is coming in this stakes on a three-race win streak and might have found his new home on a new surface. With quick workouts and a nice inside post, he’s going to be my top pick in here.

2. Mamba – (D J C Racing Stables, E. Esquivel) Has been a bit camera shy as of late, with five thirds and a second over his past six starts. Mamba hasn’t had a lot of success in graded stakes company since switching barns two years ago. His most notable performance came in the Triple Bend at Santa Anita, only losing by a head right at the wire. The Parx Dirt Mile was also a nice effort, setting the pace early and barely getting caught in the final 1/16. It should be noted that he leads the field with $827.150 in career earnings. Mamba seems to run his best when on or near the lead, so getting in position early is going to be key. While he fits, I’m siding with others who offer more appeal here.

3. Valyrian Needle – (Mb Stables, D E. Centeno) A $167.420 auction purchase as a two-year-old with a lot of speed from the gate. Valyrian Needle is currently in great form, winning two out of his last three. He’s coming out of the Fool Handicap at Aqueduct, where he dictated things up front, but couldn’t hold off the closing horses late to finish third. The son of Broomsticks Happy put up a 100 SRF figure in that race and seems to be getting better and better right now. His two other wins came against allowance company, wiring both fields. This entry makes sense as Vakyrian Needle doesn’t have too many allowance conditions left. Don’t let this guy have an easy lead, or else you won’t catch him.

4. Tube – (Spankys Barn, T. Gaffalione) This Pennsylvania-bred is still seeking his first stakes win since being privately purchased for $200.000 last summer. He won first time out at Parx as a two-year-old, and since then, he has yet to win another sprint race. Tube was on the Derby trail for a short time after winning The Jerome and running fourth in The Rebel. He then dropped back down into allowance company and had an impressive three-length victory at Churchill Downs, going a mile and an eighth. Connections tried a couple of one-turn races late last year, but Tube failed to make any impact. Other rivals offer more upside and present a stronger case in this spot.

5. Daddys A Baller – (Luz International, A. Achard) Was lightly raced in 2025 with six starts, and picked up an open allowance victory at Aqueduct. He also competed in this race last year, finishing fourth. More recently, Daddys A Baller put in a strong effort in the Forego Stakes at Turfway Park, finishing second after being forced six wide into the stretch—likely costing him the win after losing ground on the far turn. He followed that up with another solid runner-up finish in the Whitmore Stakes against a tough field, sitting in striking range at the top of the stretch before being outfinished late. This is a logical spot, as Daddys A Baller has been knocking on the door in his recent starts.

6. Only Way Is Up – (The Sidley Stud, R. Bejarano) Claimed for just $10.000 in the summer of 2024, he has since developed into a multiple graded stakes winner. The son of No Doubt About It captured the Kellys Landing Stakes against a strong field and went on to close out his 2025 campaign in the Breeders Cup Sprint. The wide draw in post eleven and the depth of the field proved too much to overcome. Only Way Is Up has made just one start this year, finishing second at Santa Anita. He does his best running on or near the lead, and I don’t expect things to change here. However, with Valyrian Needle likely to apply pressure early, a change in tactics might be the way to win.

– AJM

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES