By DRF.com
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Mar. 13, 2026) — California-bred Majestic Oops has been learning some new tricks as an older mare and the 6-year-old has run arguably the best two races of her career this meet at Oaklawn Park.
Bred by William and Sandy Dory and Gary and Janet Kropp, she opened up her season in February with a sweeping win in the $150,000 American Beauty over six furlongs, then came back and won the most prestigious race of her career in the Grade 2, $400,000 Azeri last Saturday.
Majestic Oops emerged from the Azeri in excellent condition and is now on track for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap on April 11 at Oaklawn, according to her trainer, Dan Ward.
“She’s been something else,” he said. “She’s very happy. She likes the program here. We train her easy because she’s very small. I think the farthest we worked her was half a mile. She had four works before the sprint and then I just worked her one time in between, because she’s so small I don’t think she would take a lot of hard training.
“The girl that gets on her, Talia [Viscusi], she just does a great job getting her to relax. Last year, she was a little bit strong in the mornings and then sometimes in her races she used herself up the first part of the races, but now. . . . The other day when she broke two lengths in front, I said, ‘Uh-oh,’ but she just relaxed really nicely. She’s kind of learned how to run and learned where to start running, so it’s been a lot of fun.”
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Ward said Francisco Arrieta, who has ridden Majestic Oops in both of her races this meet, also has been part of her development this season at Oaklawn.
“Francisco knows how to get her to relax and come with the big finish,” said Ward. “We’re excited about trying the Apple Blossom. That’s the plan right now. That’s what we’re looking forward to.”
Majestic Oops is a California-bred daughter of Majestic Harbor. She is owned by Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Agave Racing Stable, and Sheila Regan and is nearing $1 million in earnings with a current bankroll of $952,309.
Oops and Downs, a 5-year-old full sister to Majestic Oops who won March 2 at Will Rogers, is scheduled to sell at an upcoming Fasig-Tipton digital sale, said Ward.
“I had her and the owners wanted to sell and one of my other owners bought her and ran her,” Ward said of the Will Rogers start made with Oklahoma-based trainer Scott Young. “I believe she’s going to be in the digital sale March 19.
“They look so much alike. and they travel the same.”
Majestic Oops gave Ward his first graded win as a trainer in the Azeri. The 67-year-old went out on his own in 2023 after serving as an assistant trainer to a pair of Hall of Fame horsemen in Jerry Hollendorfer and the late Bobby Frankel. Ward got his start in racing as a hotwalker in the 1970s.
“I was a fan, grew up in San Diego,” Ward said of his introduction to racing. “Secretariat, and Riva Ridge, and Majestic Prince, I watched those horses on TV. And I was pretty close to Del Mar.
“I wanted to learn. [Racing] was really popular. Riva Ridge actually ran at Hollywood Park. I was just a fan when I saw Majestic Prince at Santa Anita. There were big crowds and it was really exciting.”
Ward started as a hotwalker for Frankel in 1977 and was there as the quality of the runners in his barn began to soar. During his time with Hollendorfer, Ward worked with a number of high-profile runners, including champions Songbird and Unique Bella.
“I worked for two good trainers and it was like going to school every day,” said Ward.
Ward learned his lessons well, and is now applying his knowledge to get the best out of the 22 horses in his barn, which is led by Majestic Oops.