First Mission Looms Large Over Philip H. Iselin Field

After knocking heads against division heavyweights Mindframe  and Sierra Leone  in his most recent outing, Godolphin's First Mission  faces softer company in his return to action in the $250,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) Aug. 16 at Monmouth Park.

A four-time graded stakes winner, First Mission appears an overwhelming favorite in the field of six older horses, with his main opposition coming from Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3) winner Surface to Air . The latter handed First Mission's stablemate, Just a Touch , a startling defeat at 19-1 odds on Haskell day, providing Panagiotis Synnefias with his first graded win as a trainer. 

Hard-knocking Repo Rocks , a 7-year-old gelding slated to make his 53rd career start in the Iselin, may also take some play following a 6 1/2-length score in the Edward P. Evans Stakes July 18 at Colonial Downs. 

Trained by Brad Cox, First Mission was assigned co-high weight of 124 pounds, along with Surface to Air, giving as much as six pounds to the field. Florent Geroux gets back on the son of Street Sense   for the first time in three starts. 

The Iselin could serve as a prep for grade 1 glory down the line for First Mission, whose connections are undoubtedly eyeing that elusive top-level victory for their potential stallion prospect. As part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series, the Iselin, contested at 1 1/16 miles, will award $15,000 to the winner, $7,500 to the runner-up, and $3,750 to the third-place finisher to apply toward entry fees for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 1.