Razorback Draws Full Field of 14, led by First Mission

A full field of 14, led by Godolphin's homebred multiple graded stakes winner First Mission , has been entered for the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 23 at Oaklawn Park. The race was originally scheduled for Feb. 22 but was moved back a day in reaction to a winter storm.

The 5-year-old Street Sense   horse won two graded stakes last year, starting with a five-length win in Oaklawn's Essex Handicap (G3). The Brad Cox trainee followed that up with a four-length win in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. He hasn't run since Aug. 3 when seventh in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

First Mission was assigned high weight of 122 pounds in the 1 1/16-mile dirt race. He will break from post 3 under Florent Geroux.

"He's training really well," Cox said. "Obviously, he's proven over the racetrack. I'm excited about getting him started."

One of his main competitors, former Godolphin homebred Banishing , drew post 2 and the services of Flavien Prat. Godolphin sold Banishing for $80,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale, where Lawrence P. Roman became the new owner of the now 5-year-old Ghostzapper  gelding, with trainer David Jacobson later being added to the ownership.

Banishing bore out badly and required the services of an equine ambulance in his first start for the new connections in an allowance optional claiming race Aug. 24 at Saratoga. But he has been on an improvement pattern ever since, winning four of five starts, including a last-out 7 1/2-length win in an overnight stakes Jan. 23 at Oaklawn. Banishing's most recent five starts came going one turn, but he has two previous route victories. He was assigned 119 pounds for Sunday's race.

Last year's Suburban Stakes (G2) winner Crupi , trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole and St. Elias stables, drew the rail and was assigned second-high weight at 121 pounds. The 5-year-old Curlin   horse most recently finished a troubled seventh in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park.

Another Curlin 5-year-old—C R K Stables' Skinner —enters the Razorback off a third behind Hit Show  in the Jan. 18 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Skinner, assigned 119, will again be ridden by Jose Ortiz as he makes his second start since being transferred out of the Southern California barn of John Shirreffs to trainer Cherie DeVaux.

"He's doing really well," DeVaux said. "Came out of his last race and trained forwardly. We didn't have him all that long prior to his start. Hoping he puts in another good effort for us. His figures are kind of steady where they are, but I think there's room for improvement as he matures and he has matured."

DeVaux said if Skinner runs well Sunday, the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 19 could be his next target.

Multiple graded winner Red Route One , a 5-year-old Gun Runner   horse trained by Steve Asmussen for owner/breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds, looks to get back on track following a disappointing fourth as the favorite here Jan. 5 in the listed Tinsel Stakes. The stretch-runner was assigned 120 pounds.

The race also features the stakes debut of the undefeated, lightly raced 4-year-old Baddest Good Boy  (116 pounds). Trained by Norm Casse for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, the Bernardini gelding won his debut sprinting Dec. 21 at Oaklawn then came back with an impressive allowance victory Jan. 25 going 1 1/16 miles.