Did Get ice cream ever deliver.
The much-loved Haulin Ice on Feb. 20 became the first accredited Arkansas-bred male to reach $1 million in career earnings with a class-leading tour de force of 11 3/4 in the $150,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes. The Downthedustyroad, limited to Arkansas-bred fillies and mares 3 years and older, was Haulin Ice’s 11th win in 20 starts overall and bred 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 meeting’s fastest 6 furlongs (1:08.75) under Francisco Arrieta.
“I wanted to be here when she went bankrupt ($1 million in career earnings),” said Cornett, a Florida resident, moments after the Downthedustyroad. “I love this place. I love Arkansas. I have deep roots in racing here. I’ve probably won over 100 races here, a lot of stakes. It’s just a great place, horse friendly. I call it the mini-Saratoga meeting. I just love it here.”
Cornett’s Turf Express, then based in Texas, enjoyed a successful run at Oaklawn in the early 2000s with the late Cole Norman, who topped the local trainer rankings for six consecutive years (2001-2006). But none of Cornett’s winners at that time in Hot Springs put together a resume like that of Haulin Ice, a five-year-old grizzled daughter of a 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 purchased privately by Cornett’s C2 Racing Stable in the spring of 2024 and moving to Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Haulin Ice has collected seven career victories for Cornett and Joseph, including two in rated company, and competed in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) on November 1 at Sea. Cornett secured Haulin Ice after beating open company for the first of seven times to date in a May 3, 2024 sprint at Oaklawn.
“I saw her running and I called Lindsay,” Cornett said. “I’m a high-pace guy and internally she’s done some special things. Even though she was just a young three-year-old filly, I thought she showed enough talent that we could eventually win a certain stakes with her, and we did that.”
Haulin Ice became the leading accredited Arkansas-bred money winner in history with victory in the Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) on September 20 at Gulfstream Park. Nodouble, the nation’s two-time champion older horse, set the previous record ($846,749) in 1970. Haulin Ice was nearly unstoppable at Oaklawn, with a 7-2-0 record from nine starts and earnings of $695,300. She won the 2025 Downthedustyroad by six in a 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 used the Downthedustyroad in preparation for the $250,000 6-furlong Matron Stakes for older fillies and mares on March 27 at Oaklawn. Haulin Ice defeated the company in last year’s Matron by 5. The 2026 Matron will likely be Haulin Ice’s Oaklawn swan song, Cornett said.
“This will probably be her last year, and then she will most likely be sold at the Fasig-Tipton star sale in November,” 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 scheduled to depart for its base in Florida on Feb. 22, Joseph said.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
#Cornett #reflects #Haulin #Ices #historic #victory