Coast-to-coast battle brewing in Razorback Handicap
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – West Will Power came close to Grade 1 glory last out in a performance that figures to make him the favorite Saturday when he meets rivals from both coasts in the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park.
The field of 10 for the 1 1/16-mile race includes Law Professor, who is in from New York after winning the Queens County at Aqueduct, and two Southern California shippers in Ginobili, winner of last month’s Fifth Season at Oaklawn, and Hero Status, to be ridden by Mike Smith.
West Will Power is the 122-pound highweight off his effort in the Grade 1 Clark on Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs. He was second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Proxy, after setting the pace under jockey Luis Saez.
“Luis said he thought [West Will Power] saw something a sixteenth of a mile before the wire, thought it cost him the race,” trainer Brad Cox said. “It was a big effort. We were beat by a very, very good horse. Hopefully, he’ll make a good showing on Saturday and we’ll take another swing at a Grade 1 with him.”
Oaklawn has gone whole hog for its Razorback card. The main event is part of a 10-race program that boasts total purses of $1.3 million. There are four allowances and three maiden special weights to dissect, with some of those races drawing offspring of high-profile mares and 3-year-olds nominated to the Triple Crown.
West Will Power is one of three Razorback entrants who can go over $1 million in earnings with a win, the others being Law Professor and Caddo River. The field already has three millionaires – Rated R Superstar, Last Samurai, and Long Range Toddy – as well as the owner of one of the year’s top route Beyer Speed Figures in Keystone Field.
“The race came up pretty deep,” said Rob Atras, who trains Law Professor.
Law Professor, weighted at 120 pounds, is another who has come close to Grade 1 glory. He was second to Life Is Good in the Woodward at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet in October. Law Professor returned to run fifth to Cody’s Wish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November. He then romped by 7 1/2 lengths in the Queens County on Jan. 7.
“It was exactly what he needed, a confidence-building win after running into a couple of monsters,” Atras said.
From there, the connections looked to the Razorback.
“The timing was good,” Atras said. “We were kind of searching around for a spot. It was kind of on our radar, and if he ran well, Oaklawn’s got two more pretty good races down there.”
The division’s local series includes the Essex and the Oaklawn Handicap.
Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 2 for Twin Creeks Racing Stables. Law Professor is shortening up a tad in distance, from the 1 1/8-mile trip of the Queens County.
“He’s got enough tactical speed to get himself in a decent position,” Atras said.
West Will Power also raced over 1 1/8 miles in the Clark. Since that start, the Gary and Mary West homebred has turned in some sharp works at Fair Grounds.
“After the Clark we kind of freshened him up, hopefully to have a horse for all year,” Cox said. “We’re excited about getting him back going. He’s training really well. I’m super happy with what I’ve seen from him in his works, especially over the last month.”
Joel Rosario, who in October won the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland with West Will Power, has the mount from post 6.
Ginobili, weighted at 119, has a win over the track in the Fifth Season. Since that start, he’s put in two strong works at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in Bonsall, Calif.
“He’s doing very well,” trainer Peter Miller said. “It’s definitely a tougher race than the last one. It’s a salty group, but I’m very happy with how my horse is doing.”
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Ginobili tracked the pace in the Fifth Season, then shuttled home by four lengths. Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard and has the mount from post 4 on Saturday.
“It was an awesome performance,” Miller said. “What’s nice is he doesn’t need the lead. He’s fast, but doesn’t need the lead, so that gives Ricardo a lot of options.”
Rated R Superstar, who has earned $1.7 million, was a closing third in the Fifth Season.
Last Samurai, who won last year’s Oaklawn Handicap, is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup.
Hero Status is making his stakes debut after winning three of his last four starts, all under Smith. Keystone Field also has won three of his last four starts, including a local allowance for which he earned a career-high Beyer of 102.
◗ California Cup Derby winner Thirsty John goes in a first-level allowance route that drew Shopper’s Revenge, a son of Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria.
“We wanted to test him against open company and see how he fit,” Miller said of Thirsty John. “We know he’s a very nice Cal-bred. We’re hoping he can run well with open company.”
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