Octane Powers to Graded Stakes Win in Razorback
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Photo: Coady Photo
Octane wins the Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park
Florida-bred Octane made the most of his being shipped northward, scoring not only his first stakes win against open company but his first graded stakes victory in the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 24 at Oaklawn Park.
After leading every step before being nailed at the wire in the Sunshine Classic Stakes Jan. 20 at Gulfstream Park, jockey Julien Leparoux found a stalking position for Octane Saturday as Fifth Season Stakes winner Promise Keeper controlled the pace. A stalking second behind opening fractions of :23.30 and :47.33, Octane moved in unison with Armando Hernandez-trained Notary at the three-furlong marker and the pair took over from a retreating Promise Keeper at the top of the lane. Finding more at the eighth pole, the gelding shook free from Notary and held off late-rallying Magic Tap by three-quarters of a length under the wire.
Octane ($13) stopped the clock in 1:43.57 for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track. Favored Magic Tap and Notary completed the trifecta.
The Razorback pushed Octane's earnings over the $1 million mark and he improved his record to 8-4-1 from 18 starts. A stakes winner every year he's raced, the Razorback was the fifth black-type win overall for the 5-year-old son of Brethren .
Juan Alvarado trains Octane for Arindel Farm.
Octane is the second stakes winner from the Aldebaran mare Star Recruit, who also produced the gelding's full brother, $402,200 earner, and Florida-bred stakes winner Gatsby .