Stakes Advance - Oaklawn Handicap Day
By Robert Yates
Defending champion Skippylongstocking is among eight entrants in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Oaklawn.
The Oaklawn Handicap headlines a 12-race card that begins at 12:20 p.m. CDT. Probable post time for the Oaklawn Handicap, the 11th race, is 6:10 p.m. The program also features the $200,000 Bathhouse Row (Race 6) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles and the $200,000 Valley of the Vapors (Race 10) for 3-year-old fillies at one mile.
The Oaklawn Handicap field from the rail out:
- Go West Go, Tyler Bacon, 112, 30-1;
- Disarm, Keith Asmussen, 119, 10-1;
- First Mission, Flavien Prat, 121, 2-1;
- Skippylongstocking, Irad Ortiz Jr., 123, 5-2
- Alexander Helios, Luis Saez, 120, 4-1;
- Taratino, Edwin Maldonado, 118, 20-1:
- Banishing, Ricardo Santana Jr., 122, 7-2;
- Red Route One, Erik Asmussen, 120, 15-1.
Skippylongstocking is bidding to become the first horse since Gay Revoke (1964 and 1965) to win consecutive runnings of the Oaklawn Handicap. Skippylongstocking was a sharp two-length winner of last year’s edition for Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Skippylongstocking’s three starts prior to the 2024 Oaklawn Handicap were the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the Challenger Stakes. He followed the same path in 2025, finishing sixth in the $1 million Dirt Mile Nov. 2 at Del Mar, third in the $3 million Pegasus miles Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park and won Tampa Bay Downs’ $125,000 Challenger for the second consecutive year, when he set a track record for 1 1/16 miles (1:41.20) March 8.
“I think he’s coming in in good form,” Joseph said. “I expect a good run, hopefully. I do think he likes to be forwardly placed. Hopefully, he breaks well from there and puts himself in a forward position. There’s some speed in there that he can stalk if he needs to. If he broke well enough, he can lead, also.”
Skippylongstocking is an eight-time stakes winner and one of four millionaires entered in the Oaklawn Handicap. Joseph will also send out Alexander Helios, who exits a head victory over Banishing in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 23 at Oaklawn. First Mission finished another neck farther back in third.
The Razorback Handicap marked the stakes debut for Alexander Helios, an emerging 5-year-old half-brother to 2021 Preakness winner Rombauer.
In his final start of 2024, Alexander Helios finished second to future Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Hit Show in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race last May at Churchill Downs and opened 2025 with a 2 ½-length allowance victory at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 18 at Gulfstream Park. Alexander Helios won the Razorback in a meet-best 1:41.88.
“Obviously, stepped up his game and ran well last time,” Joseph said. “He beat Banishing, who came back to win the (Oaklawn Mile). He’s in good form and he goes over there with a very good chance himself. We feel like we have two horses that are in good (form) and, hopefully, they run their best races on that day.”
The razor-sharp Banishing has won four of his last five starts, including the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) March 29 for co-owner/trainer David Jacobson.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen entered millionaires Disarm and Red Route One. First Mission, another millionaire, represents trainer Brad Cox.
Red Route One, third in last year’s Oaklawn Handicap, won the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at 1 1/8 miles March 22 at Oaklawn in his last start. Disarm returns to graded stakes company after launching his 2025 campaign with an allowance victory at 1 1/16 miles March 14 at Oaklawn. Keith Asmussen sticks with Disarm after winning the Essex aboard Red Route One.
First Mission won the 2024 Essex and narrowly missed in the Razorback, which was his first start since August.
“I think First Mission got a good bit out of that first race,” Cox said. “He’s trained really well since. We targeted this race since his last run there at Oaklawn, so I think he’s set up for a big race.”
Tarantino finished second behind Red Route One in the Essex, beaten 4 ½ lengths. Go West Go will be making his stakes debut.
BATHHOUSE ROW
The Bathhouse Row winner, if Triple Crown nominated, will receive automatic entry into the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown, May 17 at Pimlico.
Louisiana Derby starters Instant Replay and Caldera are among seven entrants in the Bathhouse Row, which has been dominated by two trainers, Steve Asmussen and Brad Cox, since it debuted in 2019.
Cox is seeking his record-tying third Bathhouse Row victory with Instant Replay, the 4-5 program favorite who exits a strong third-place finish in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at 1 3/16 miles March 22 at Fair Grounds. Instant Replay closed his 2-year-old campaign with a fourth-place finish behind future Arkansas Derby winner Sandman in a 1-mile allowance race Dec. 13 at Oaklawn.
“I like Instant Replay a good bit,” Cox said. “He’s another one I feel has done very well since his last run there at the Fair Grounds. Physically, he looks amazing. I think he’s set up for a big run.”
Caldera (15-1) was never a factor in the Louisiana Derby after stumbling at the start. Following a maiden-breaking romp Jan. 17 at Oaklawn, Caldera finished second, beaten a nose, in the $400,000 Sunland Park Derby at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 16 at Sunland Park for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
“I don’t know who makes the morning line, but he’s not 15-1,” Lukas said. “If he is, I missed the boat completely.”
Hymn, a sharp debut winner Feb. 8 at Oaklawn for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs, is also entered, as is supplemental nominee First Division for trainer Kenny McPeek. Hymn (4-1) adds blinkers.
First Division (8-1) exits a ninth-place finish, beaten 53 lengths, in his stakes debut, the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles March 29. First Division is a half-brother to Indiana-bred star Corningstone, a multiple stakes winner this season at Oaklawn for McPeek.
In First Division’s prior start, he finished second, beaten a head by Bestfriend Rocket, in a first-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles March 2 at Oaklawn. Bestfriend Rocket returned to finish eighth in the Arkansas Derby.
“He was really compromised by the break out of the gate,” McPeek said, referring to First Division. “He wasn’t set. The assistant starter wasn’t set and he (First Division) got left. He probably wins by two (lengths) if that doesn’t happen.”
Tiz Secure (9-2) will be making his first start outside California for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Amussen has won the Bathhouse Row a record three times, but he doesn’t have an
entrant this year.
VALLEY OF THE VAPORS
The Valley of the Vapors drew eight entrants, including Jenkin for trainer Lindsay Schultz and Anonima for trainer Kenny McPeek.
Jenkin (12-1) captured the $175,000 Year’s End Stakes at one mile Dec. 29 at Oaklawn. Anonima (7-2) exits a third-place finish, beaten a length, in the $250,000 Virginia Oaks at 1 1/16 miles March 15 at Colonial Downs. The Virginia Oaks was run around one turn because Colonial Downs’ main track is 1 ¼ miles.
“We were real pleased,” McPeek said. “I think this is a good spot for her. She had a nice breeze (April 12). It should be ideal.”
McPeek claimed last year’s Valley of the Vapors with Winnable.
Program favorite Quantum Burst (2-1) will be making her stakes debut after winning her last start, a first-level allowance at one mile, by nine lengths March 15 at Colonial Downs for trainer Eddie Kenneally.
Princess Aliyah (12-1) looks to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) March 15 at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile Fantasy marked the stakes debut for Princess Aliyah, a $1.2 million daughter of Into Mischief who broke her maiden by 1 ½ lengths at 1 mile March 9 at Oaklawn.
“I think she’s got to step up a little bit,” Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “She disappointed me in the last race. Her maiden win was nice. But I look for her to step up, though. She needs to.”
Miss Martini (3-1) will be making her two-turn debut for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Miss Martini, in her last start, won the $145,000 Southern Hospitality Stakes at six furlongs March 30 at Oaklawn.
