Full Serrano is a central candidate for the Oaklawn Mile Stakes

The Argentine star will run next Saturday over the dirt mile at Oaklawn Park for a $500,000 purse

HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas (Special for Turf Diario).— After facing the elite at Gulfstream Park, the Argentine star Full Serrano returns to the scene this Saturday at Oaklawn Park, where he will be one of the main figures in the Oaklawn Mile (G3), a $500,000 race to be held as part of the Arkansas Derby (G1) program.

Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in 2024, the John Sadler trainee will face his first start since his excellent third-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup (G1), where he finished behind Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator). That performance, in a context of maximum demand, made it clear that the horse remains competitive, even against the best.

Now, in a slightly more accessible but equally demanding setting, he will seek to return to the winner's circle. With the Italian Antonio Fresu in the irons and starting from post 5, he appears as one of the strong names within a compact field of eight participants.

The race, which will be the eleventh on the card, features an interesting and varied group. Full Serrano appears with a morning-line of 2/1 as the favorite, while at 3/1, the main rival is Nu What's New (Munnings), who debuted on the stakes level finishing second in the Razorback Handicap (G3).

Also entered was the talented East Avenue (Medaglia D'Oro), inactive since August of last year, but winner at age 2 of the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) and at 3 of the Matt Winn Stakes (G3). At one time, he was a strong card for Godolphin, though it remains to be seen how he returns.

Coal Battle (Coal Front) is also a name to be highly respected, having left the scene in July 2025 after finishing second in the Indiana Derby (G3), and now returning to the track where he won the Smarty Jones Stakes (L) and the Rebel Stakes (G2), in addition to having finished third in the Arkansas Derby (G1).

Will Take It (Tapit), Neoequos (Neolithic), Gun Party (Curlin), and Awesome Aaron (Practical Joke) complete a strong roster.