Ride On Curlin Pointing for Razorback Next
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Runner-up in the Essex Handicap Feb. 14, Ride On Curlin will point toward the $250,000 Razorback Handicap (gr. III) in one month, trainer Billy Gowan said the morning after the son of Curlin made his return to stakes action at Oaklawn Park.
Gowan said Ride On Curlin came out of the 1 1/16-mile Essex in good order. If there are no setbacks, he said Oaklawn's March 14 Razorback is a good target for last year's Preakness Stakes (gr. I) runner-up.
Returning to a two-turn race for the first time since June, Ride On Curlin finished 1 3/4 lengths behind Golden Lad as the 4-5 favorite in the Essex.
"He probably got a tick tired at the end," Gowan said Sunday morning. "We were still the widest of all. I guess that's the way he runs. He ought to really be tough that next race."
Ride On Curlin prepped for the Essex with a second-level allowance/optional claiming sprint victory Jan. 15. It marked the 4-year-old's first start since being eased in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in June.
"If he comes out of this race as well as did the last one, I definitely think we'll run in the Razorback," Gowan said. "Same distance, same track."
Owned by Daniel J. Dougherty, Ride On Curlin is still seeking his first stakes victory and first win around two turns. The bay colt has a 3-4-4 record from 14 lifetime starts and earnings of $771,287.