Race of the Week: Saturday's $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap

‍The Lead:
The mid-south's premier race for older horses, the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap, provides one of the season's final destination races of the winter-spring meeting in Hot Springs, Ark. The Grade 2 test over 1-1/8 miles goes as Race 11 on the card and the field of 8 includes the winners of the series' most-important preps, the Essex and the Razorback, as well as its defending champion.

​Field Depth:
Grade 2 winners include SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING, RED ROUTE ONE and FIRST MISSION. Also note DISARM, ALEXANDER HELIOS and BANISHING are Grade 3 winners, the first of those is Grade 1-placed. TARANTINO is multiple Grade 2-placed. The match up similar in terms of class though SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING has faced the strongest schedule over time.
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Pace:
BANISHING may be fastest early in this group, but TARANTINO and ALEXANDER HELIOS will be right in the mix with SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING and FIRST MISSION not far from the tempo. This should be an above-average to fast pace and give late runners a reasonable chance if they fire.

Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

#1-GO WEST GO : Maiden claiming graduate is just 1-for-5 and clearly the overmatched, ranked outsider in this field for trainer Boyd Caster. Has sprinted in all 5 starts.

#2-DISARM: Local allowance winner 5 weeks ago when coming off a September layoff, this consistent sort has been just shy of the upper levels in multiple previous chances. Excellent post and fast pace in front of him provides every opportunity.

#3-FIRST MISSION : Ace stakes rider Flavien Prat takes the controls for the controls for the first time on the 2024 Essex winner and 2025 Razorback third-place finisher. Favored last out when by a neck in his first start since August and could build off that at a juicier price. Mixed results at this distance while 1-1/16 miles arguably his best.

#4-SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING : Last year's Oaklawn Handicap winner has earned $3.2 million while being a well-placed road warrior throughout his career. As good as ever in winning a third straight Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs most recently which was his same springboard here in 2024. Irad Ortiz Jr. takes over for injured pilot Tyler Gaffalione. Nearly all of his best efforts have come when he's first or second early in the race; so if you're going to beat him, several getting in front of him early -- which is possible here -- would be the gameplan.

#5-ALEXANDER HELIOS : Dueling victory in the Grade 3 Razorback at 8-1 odds, he'll be the longer-priced of the Saffie Joseph Jr. entrants on Saturday alongside stablemate Skippylongstocking. Similar running style to the favorite and aggressive jockey Luis Saez probably won't take a back seat. Good record at the track and distance.

#6-TARANTINO : Santa Anita-based colt has trained at Keeneland in recent weeks and could have run there Saturday for $350,000 in the Ben Ali. Confidence move making return trip to Oaklawn for $1.25 million after a troubled-trip second in the Essex. The $40,000 claim has gone 6: 2-3-1 since coming to trainer Peter Eurton but must deal with pace heat.

#7-BANISHING : Nearly wired the Razorback in February before coming up a head short to Alexander Helios while holding off First Mission. His Oaklawn Mile return bid was sharp, dueling and outgaming the Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown while flashing far clear of everyone else. Flavien Prat rode both times prior, now jumps to First Mission, while speed jockey Ricardo Santana reclaims the mount. He twice won sprinting with Banshing earlier in the Oaklawn meeting. Pedigree says 9 furlongs will be fine, but he's going to be stretched with pressure. Just 2 heads away from 7 straight wins.

#8-RED ROUTE ONE: Late-runner figures to take his place at the back and hope they cook early and often in front of him. Rallied strongly to win the Grade 3 Essex in one of the better performances of his career. He's had a problem repeating top efforts, going a paltry 5: 0-0-2 following his previous career victories. Gets his best distance at 9 furlongs.

Most Certain Exotics Contender:
DISARM is 14-15 in the superfecta lifetime and has a beautiful pace set-up.

Best Longshot Exotics Contender:
At 10-1 morning line, DISARM fills the bill here as well.

Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$60 win DISARM. $10 exacta key-box DISARM with respected logical players SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING and FIRST MISSION ($20).

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