Touchdown Arkansas captures Nodouble Breeders' Stakes

Touchdown Arkansas collared favored Bohemian Bo in deep stretch to win the $150,000 Nodouble Breeders' Stakes for accredited Arkansas-bred sprinters, 3 and up, Saturday at Oaklawn.

Ridden by Francisco Arrieta, Touchdown Arkansas finished three-quarters of a length ahead of fast-closing Cybertown, with pacesetting Bohemian Bo another three-quarters of a length farther back in third. The 2024 Nodouble winner, Bohemian Bo, led inside the sixteenth pole but could not hold off Touchdown Arkansas and Cybertown on the outside in the final yards.

Navy Seal, the 2025 Nodouble winner, finished fourth, a neck ahead of Lochmoor, who was followed in order by One Ten Stadium, Willow Creek Road and Al's Romeo.

Touchdown Arkansas, sent off at 4-1, paid $10, $6 and $4. Cybertown paid $24.60 and $7.40. Bohemian Bo paid $2.80.

Tom Van Berg trains the 5-year-old son of Grade 1 winner Bee Jersey for Lewis E. Mathews Jr. of nearby Bismarck, Ark., best known for campaigning millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes-winning sprinter Ivan Fallunovalot.

Bohemian Bo grabbed the lead out of the gate as Touchdown Arkansas, from post 8, tracked from behind. The field moved through a half-mile in 46.39 seconds before Touchdown Arkansas engaged on the outside turning for home and wore down Bohemian Bo to secure his first career stakes victory. The winning time over a fast track was 1:10.31.

Touchdown Arkansas lifted his lifetime earnings to $257,500 and improved his record to 6: 3-1-0.

He exited a runner-up finish in an Arkansas-bred allowance sprint Feb. 6 at Oaklawn.