Asked what brought him back to Oaklawn Park for the first time in many years, owner Mark Cornett said he wanted to witness history.
Did Haulin Ice ever deliver.
Heavily favored Haulin Ice became the first accredited Arkansas-bred to reach $1 million in career earnings with a front-running 11 3/4-length tour de force in the $150,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders' Stakes Feb. 20. The Downthedustyroad, restricted to Arkansas-bred fillies and mares, 3 and up, was Haulin Ice's 11th victory in 20 starts overall and raised her earnings to $1,081,500.
Five months after becoming the leading accredited Arkansas-bred money winner in history, Haulin Ice won the Downthedustyroad in the fastest 6 furlongs of the meeting (1:08.75) under Francisco Arrieta.
"I wanted to be here when she broke ($1 million in career earnings)," Cornett, a Florida resident, said moments after the Downthedustyroad. "I love this place. I love Arkansas. I've got deep roots here in racing. I've won, probably, over a 100 races here, a lot of stakes. It's just a great spot, horse-friendly. I call it the mini-Saratoga meet. I just love it here."
Then based in Texas, Cornett's Turf Express enjoyed a successful run in the early 2000s at Oaklawn with the late Cole Norman, who topped the local trainer standings six consecutive years (2001-2006). But none of Cornett's winners during that era in Hot Springs compiled a resume like that of Haulin Ice, a 5-year-old gray daughter of millionaire Coal Front .
Haulin Ice made her first five career starts in 2024 at Oaklawn for trainer Lindsay Schultz and the mare's breeder, Arkansan Eugenia Thompson-Benight, before being privately purchased by Cornett's C2 Racing Stable in the spring of 2024 and sent to Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Haulin Ice has collected seven career stakes victories for Cornett and Joseph, including two in graded company, and appeared in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Cornett secured Haulin Ice after she beat open company for the first of seven times to date in a May 3, 2024, allowance sprint at Oaklawn.
"I saw her run, and I called Lindsay," Cornett said. "I'm a big pace kind of internal-fraction guy, and she did some special things internally. Even though she was just a young 3-year-old filly, I thought she showed enough talent where we could eventually win a graded stakes with her, and we did."
Haulin Ice became the leading accredited Arkansas-bred money winner in history with a victory in the Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) Sept. 20 at Gulfstream Park. Nodouble, the country's two-time champion older horse, set the previous record ($846,749) in 1970. Haulin Ice has been nearly unstoppable at Oaklawn, boasting a 7-2-0 record from nine starts and earning $695,300. She won the 2025 Downthedustyroad by 6 front-running lengths in a stakes record 1:10.26. Haulin Ice destroyed that mark Friday.
"She was just cruising the whole way," Cornett said. "She had more in the tank, I thought."
Joseph was using the Downthedustyroad as a prep for the 6-furlong $250,000 Matron Stakes for older fillies and mares March 27 at Oaklawn. Haulin Ice whipped open company in last year's Matron by 5 front-running lengths. The 2026 Matron will likely be Haulin Ice's Oaklawn swan song, Cornett said.
"This will probably be her last year to run, and then she'll be sold in Fasig-Tipton's November stars sale, more than likely," Cornett said.
Cornett and his brother, Clint, now race Haulin Ice with WSS Racing (William Simon) and Agave Racing Stable (Mark Martinez). Haulin Ice was to depart Feb. 22 for her Florida base, Joseph said.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
