What does trainer Amoss Say?

Unbeaten Paving makes her two-turn debut in the $150,000 Year’s End Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Saturday at Oaklawn.

Probable post time for the Year’s End, the eighth of 10 races, is 3:52 p.m. CST. Racing begins at 12:30 p.m. The one-mile Year’s End anchors Oaklawn’s fourth-annual card exclusively for 2-year-olds.

Trained by Tom Amoss, Paving (two-for-two) broke her maiden by 2 ½ lengths Aug. 23 at Ellis Park and won a first-level allowance by a half-length Dec. 4 at Fair Grounds. Both races were six furlongs.

Amoss trains Paving, a daughter of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, for her breeder, Larry Hirsch (Highlander Training Center).

Gun Runner is one of the world’s leading sires. Paving’s second dam, Oaklawn stakes winner Brownie Points, has produced Synchrony, a Grade 2 winner at about 1 1/8 miles on the turf (2018 Muniz Memorial at Fair Grounds) and Chocolate Kisses, a Grade 3 winner at 1 1/16 miles (2019 Honeybee at Oaklawn).

“I think she’ll stretch out,” Amoss said, referring to Paving. “She sure acts like it. Not purposely, but she kind of got left in her second start. Had to come from well off the pace. Her style certainly suggests it.”

Paving, the 5-2 second choice in the program, is scheduled to break from post 5 under Ramon Vazquez. Counting Stars is the 2-1 program favorite in the projected nine-horse field.

Counting Stars will be making her two-turn debut after winning the inaugural $135,000 Astral Spa Overnight Stakes at six furlongs Dec. 14 at Oaklawn for dual Hall of Famer trainer Mark Casse.

Kaboom, Copper Wind, Scot’s Law, Fizzy Lass, Sticker Shocked, Newtown Pike and Authentic Cat are also entered.

Copper Wind (7-2) exits a Nov. 20 debut victory sprinting for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Newtown Pike is also one-for-one and adds blinkers for trainer Lindsay Schultz, who scored her first career Oaklawn stakes victory in the 2024 Year’s End with Jenkin. Newtown Pike broke her maiden at 6 furlongs Oct. 5 at Aqueduct.

Trainer Kenny McPeek seeks his third Year’s End victory with Sticker Shocked and Authentic Cat, who is being wheeled back after winning the first race this season at Oaklawn, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight Dec. 12.

Scot’s Law, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Scottish Lassie, has won two-of-three starts for trainer John Ortiz.

Source: Oaklawn Park