4/3/26 Barn Notes
By Robert Yates
Oaklawn’s Razorback Handicap is supposed to be a prep for the Oaklawn Handicap, but it’s also become a launching pad for success in the Middle East.
Magnitude became the second Razorback winner in five years to capture the Dubai World Cup (G1), holding off Forever Young by a length in the $12 million race at about 1 ¼ miles Saturday in the United Arab Emirates.
Jose Ortiz rode Magnitude for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, the winningest trainer in Oaklawn history. Magnitude was exiting a 3 ¾-length victory over Nu What’s New in the $500,000 Razorback (G3) for older horses at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 28.
“It’s like all of our races,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said Thursday afternoon. “Year after year, they continue to prove themselves, including the Razorback, including the Oaklawn Handicap, which, for some reason, is not a Grade 1, including all of the other races. We’re very proud of that. The bottom line is we just keep our head down to the ground and do what we’re doing.”
Mystic Guide won the 2021 Razorback and the Dubai World Cup in his next start. Gun Runner, also trained by Asmussen, won the 2017 Razorback before finishing second in the Dubai World Cup in his next start. Gun Runner was the 2017 Horse of the Year.
Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Banishing, second in last year’s Razorback, won the Godolphin Mile (G2) on Saturday’s Dubai World Cup undercard.
After finishing second in the Razorback, Banishing returned to win the Oaklawn Mile (G3) and run second in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).
Nominations close Saturday for the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2). The 1 1/8-mile race is April 18.
Hola, Joey
Hola Joey is targeting stakes company again after an allowance victory Saturday, the 4-year-old gelding’s trainer, Gene Jacquot, said Thursday morning.
Hola Joey ($8.40) eclipsed $300,000 in career earnings with a front-running one-length victory under Tyler Bacon in the $125,000 allowance for older horses at six furlongs.
“Really proud of that horse,” Jacquot said.
Hola Joey, a son of Adios Charlie, has a 7-2-1 record from 12 overall starts and earnings of $350,712. After breaking his maiden last season at Oaklawn, Hola Joey finished second in its Ozark Stakes and recorded his first career stakes victory in the Golden Circle May 17 at Prairie Meadows.
“I’ll run him back here,” Jacquot said. “They asked me to nominate him to the Count Fleet, but there’s one race at the end of the meet, the Lake Hamilton, that’s the one I’m shooting for.”
The $200,000 Lake Hamilton Stakes for older horses at six furlongs is May 1.
Jacquot trains Hola Joey for Joe D. Casey.
Finish Lines
After racing Friday and Saturday, Oaklawn will be dark Sunday in observance of Easter. … Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and his son, jockey Erik Asmussen, teamed for three victories Thursday. They won the fourth race with favored Pronghorn ($5.80), sixth race with Feminism ($9.40) and the seventh race with Dr. Soulfire ($12.80). Royally bred Feminism was making her career debut in the $110,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. Feminism is by Curlin, a two-time Horse of the Year and two-time Oaklawn stakes winner, out of two-time Oaklawn stakes winner Mufajaah, a daughter of Tapit. Steve Asmussen trains Feminism, a $975,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS June Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale, for Alabama owner Gus King. The triple pushed Asmussen’s meet-high totals to 49 (victories) and $4,070,147 (purse earnings). Asmussen also tops the owner’s standings with 16 victories, including Dr. Soulfire. … Next-race plans are pending for Knickleandime, a blowout March 26 entry-level allowance winner, but she is nominated to the $200,000 Valley of the Vapors Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at one mile April 18, trainer Randy Morse said Friday morning. … Hot Springs native and noted Thoroughbred analyst Randy Moss is this week’s special guest on “Oaklawn Raceday.” Co-hosted by Justin Acri and David Longinotti, director of Oaklawn Anywhere, the program can be heard Saturday from 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT on Little Rock, Ark., radio station KABZ-FM 103.7 and www.1037thebuzz.com.
