$150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, AR – Roll On Big Joe remains in sharp form, scoring a front-running victory in the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs Saturday at Oaklawn.

Roll On Big Joe ($6.40), who was ridden by Julien Leparoux, finished 1 ¼ lengths ahead of 8-5 favorite Banishing, with late-running Tejano Twist, the 2023 Ring the Bell winner, another 1 ¾ lengths farther back in third. The final time over a fast track was a stakes-record 1:09.54. The Ring the Bell debuted in 2022.

Tejano Twist was followed, in order, by Second I D, slow-starting Skelly, Durante and Spankster. Ghost of Midnight was a late scratch.

Skelly was bidding for a record-tying seventh career Oaklawn stakes victory and a record-extending 11^th consecutive victory overall in Hot Springs.

Roll On Big Joe was making his first start since a 4 ½-length victory in the six-furlong $300,000 Bet On Sunshine Stakes Nov. 1 at Churchill Downs. He held a narrow lead turning for home in the Ring the Bell, then drew clear in midstretch and held off millionaire Banishing, a Grade 2 winner at 1 1/8 miles.

Roll On Big Joe represented the first career Oaklawn stakes winner for trainer Bob Hess Jr., who conditions the 5-year-old gray Prospective gelding for a partnership that includes Tim Cohen (Rancho Temescal).

Roll On Big Joe has a 9-6-1 record from 22 lifetime starts and earnings of $751,925.

A four-time stakes winner, Roll On Big Joe won the Kelly’s Landing (G3) and Palos Verdes (G3) earlier this year.

Roll On Big Joe was cross-entered in Saturday’s weather-delayed $250,000 Holiday Cheer Stakes at Turfway Park.

Saturday’s estimated attendance was 19,000. Total mutuel handle was $7,288,120.

Racing resumes Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CDT, with 10 races highlighted by the inaugural $135,000 Astral Spa Overnight Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

RING THE BELL QUOTES

 WINNING JOCKEY JULIEN LEPAROUX (ROLL ON BIG JOE): “He’s been sharp the whole year, really. He hasn’t had, like, a terrible race this year. He’s been doing very good. Very simple race, I guess. He broke sharp and I let him do his thing – get him relaxed – and he finished up strong. So, it was a race that we expected, but glad he did it. We found out a few days ago that he was going to run in this race (Roll On Big Joe was cross-entered in Saturday’s weather-delayed $250,000 Holiday Cheer Stakes at Turfway Park). I think the goal was to always be at Turfway, but Bob (trainer Bob Hess Jr.) changed his mind, maybe, last week. I’m glad I came here to ride him.”