Two-time grade II winner Tapiture, who closed out last season with a runner-up finish to Goldencents in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I), is scheduled to make his 4-year-old season debut March 14 in the $250,000 Razorback Handicap (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park.
Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Tapiture has been assigned highweight of 119 pounds in the Razorback and will break from the inside post in the 1 1/16-mile race for older horses that saw six other horses enter.
Last year, Tapiture won three graded stakes, including a narrow victory in the West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort. That victory marked the second career grade II win for the son of Tapit , who as a juvenile secured the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Since Feb. 16, Tapiture has delivered four workouts for trainer Steve Asmussen in preparation for his 2015 debut, including a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 4/5 March 8 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, which was the third-fastest move at the distance that day.
The field also includes last year's Preakness Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Ride On Curlin, by Curlin ; and 2012 Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner Golden Ticket, by Speightstown .
PP | Horse | Jockey | Weight | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tapiture (KY) | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 119 | Steven M. Asmussen |
2 | Golden Ticket (KY) | Chris Landeros | 115 | Kenneth G. McPeek |
3 | Midnight Hawk (KY) | Victor Espinoza | 115 | Bob Baffert |
4 | I Got It All (IL) | Channing Hill | 113 | Thomas H. Swearingen |
5 | Race Day (KY) | John R. Velazquez | 115 | Todd A. Pletcher |
6 | Carve (KY) | Jesus Lopez Castanon | 118 | Brad H. Cox |
7 | Ride On Curlin (KY) | Jon Kenton Court | 117 | William G. Gowan |