In 2016, Kent Sweezey embarked on a quick business trip to Oaklawn. At that time, he was working for East Coast-based trainer Jimmy Jerkens and accompanied Grade 1 winner Effinex to Hot Springs for the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2). Sweezey shipped into the barn of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, saddled Effinex, and witnessed the millionaire New York-bred standout enter the horseshoe-shaped infield winner’s circle reserved for stakes races at Oaklawn. “Was here for, I think, 48 hours,” Sweezey recalled.

Wintering in Hot Springs

Now, as a trainer, Sweezey will be spending a significant amount of time at Oaklawn in 2024 - 2025. Oaklawn opened on December 6, just five days after Churchill Downs’ fall meeting ended. Sweezey has made 12 starts at Churchill Downs, which, like Oaklawn, boasts one of the highest purse structures in the country.To lay the groundwork for Oaklawn, Sweezey claimed six horses at the Churchill Downs fall meet. All these horses were for Southern California owners Rachel and Sean Gerson of Starry Night Racing.Last summer, Sweezey was based at Churchill Downs and Monmouth Park in New Jersey. But due to training for Starry Night Racing, he decided to operate a satellite string for the first time and sent 12 horses to Del Mar in suburban San Diego for its summer meet. “After summertime, we came back and did Churchill, then Keeneland and back to Churchill again and then we came out here,” Sweezey explained. “So, the horses that we kept in Kentucky are the ones that we sort of planned to be here.”

Oaklawn Meeting Beginnings

Sweezey stated that he began the Oaklawn meeting with eight horses, all for Starry Night Racing. “Every one of them is a claimer,” he said, adding that he plans to be active at the claim box. “We spent a quarter-million dollars on claiming horses and brought them out here. They (Starry Night Racing) have stepped up big time.”

Early Results at Oaklawn

Sweezey has already registered two thirds and one fourth from three starts at Oaklawn thus far. “We’re happy to be here,” he emphasized. “That’s the No. 1 thing.”Sweezey also has 40 horses at Palm Meadows Training Center in south Florida. A Kentucky native, he recorded his first of 321 career victories in 2017.