One of America’s most important spring races in the Breeders’ Cup Classic division, Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap attracted a deep field of 11. It’s part of a 12-race program that features a trio of stakes. Top jockeys like Joel Rosario, Jose Ortiz and Florent Geroux are in from Keeneland to ride.
Let’s meet the contenders for the Oaklawn Handicap (Race 11):
#1-HIGHLAND FALLS: Regally bred son of Horse of the Year Curlin and Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Round Pound exits a fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap, his first stakes attempt. Multiple allowance winner makes his first Oaklawn appearance. Trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux teamed up to win last Saturday’s Lexington Stakes at Keeneland with Encino.
#2-DOUBLE CROWN: Maryland-bred veteran has made 50 career starts, but has been outrun in 3 prior trips to Oaklawn. The 7-year-old has bagged $888,685 and reached his highest plateau when winning the Grade 2 Kelso at Aqueduct in 2022.
#3-MAGIC TAP: Oaklawn Handicap series warrior was runner-up in the Razorback and fourth in the Essex already this local season. The multiple allowance winner by Tapit seeks his first stakes victory and represents the father-son duo of trainer Steve and Keith Asmussen. The elder Asmussen saddled ’21 Oaklawn Handicap winner Silver State.
#4-OCTANE: Gulfstream Park-based colt raided Hot Springs to win the Razorback by three-quarters of a length on February 24. Returns to the scene for trainer Jose Alvarado and once again employs Julien Leparoux in the saddle. That Razorback win pushed the Florida-bred’s lifetime earnings just over the $1 million mark. Expect inside speed.
#5-RED ROUTE ONE: Success Fair Grounds winter saw him win the New Orleans Classic most recently, following solid showings in the Mineshaft and Louisiana Stakes. Joins Steve Asmussen barnmate Magic Tape in the Oaklawn Handicap lineup, returning to a track where he won last year’s Bath House Row Stakes and was runner-up in the Rebel. Asmussen saddled ’21 Oaklawn Handicap winner Silver State.
#6-REINCARNATE: Third venture to Oaklawn for Santa Anita-based colt who finished third in last year’s Rebel and Arkansas Derby in previous trips. Exits a third-place effort in the Santa Anita Handicap, finishing just in front of Oaklawn Handicap return rival Highland Falls. Trainer Bob Baffert’s recent Oaklawn raids have netted the Arkansas Derby (Muth) and Apple Blossom (Adare Manor) with Juan Hernandez riding both.
#7-GUNTOWN: Claimed for $80,000 on March 21, new owner-trainer Mike Maker takes an immediate rise in class with this regally bred son of Gun Runner and Fun House. Half-brother to Untapable and Paddy O’Prado hasn’t been in stakes company over his last 20 starts since appearing in 3 during his juvenile season of 2021.
#8-LAST SAMURAI: The 2022 Oaklawn Handicap winner came within a head of a repeat when runner-up in this race a year ago to Proxy. Now age 6, the $2.2 million earner has raced just once since August and that was a tired sixth in the Oaklawn Mile in his first start since changing from D. Wayne Lukas’ barn to Eddie Milligan. Can become just the third 2-time winner of the Oaklawn Handicap and first since the 1960s.
#9-COUNTY FINAL: Gulfstream Park regular has been no stranger to road trips, traveling to Kentucky and Canada last fall. He’s raced primarily on turf and synthetic surfaces of late, but the Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee did win an allowance on dirt at Churchill Downs in 2022. Son of 2013 Preakness winner Oxbow, runner-up here in the 2013 Arkansas Derby.
#10-SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING (pictured): More heralded Saffie Joseph Jr. stablemate to fellow Oaklawn Handicap entrant County Final, this $1.6 million earner has won races like the West Virginia Derby and Charles Town Classic away from his South Florida base. Back-to-back winner of Tampa Bay Downs’ Challenger Stakes, recently defending his title in that race March 9. Jose Ortiz Jr. takes the mount as Tyler Gaffalione opts to ride the Keeneland card.
#11-INSTANT COFFEE: A 2023 Kentucky Derby prospect after winning the Kentucky Jockey Club and Lecomte Stakes, his trajectory has been derailed over the past year. Sixth-place Louisiana Derby effort as the favorite sent him to the sidelines, only to return as the beaten favorite in a February allowance at Gulfstream Park. Transferred from Brad Cox to Brittany Russell to now with Jose D’Angelo. Late-running colt aggressively placed for the roadtrip, but picks up local leading rider Cristian Torres.
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