First Mission has options at Oaklawn, Churchill

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – First Mission has stakes options at Oaklawn and Churchill Downs after winning the Grade 3 Essex here last month with a Beyer Speed Figure of 100. He rolled by five lengths in the 1 1/8-mile race to rebound from an uncharacteristic ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park.

“He got our confidence back,” said Brad Cox, who trains the homebred for Godolphin. “We always thought he was a good horse – obviously, he was a graded stakes winner already – but it definitely got our confidence back.

“We were pretty certain that he struggled with the Gulfstream track, the kickback there. It just wasn’t his thing. You never know until you lead them back over there. You hope that was the excuse. But I think it’s pretty obvious he didn’t take to Gulfstream. So we were happy with his return off the Pegasus and hopefully we can continue on the rest of the season and see where he takes us.”

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The next stop will be either Churchill Downs or a return to Oaklawn.

“We’re going to nominate to the Oaklawn Handicap and the Alysheba,” Cox said. “I’m not sure where he will land. He did come back out of the race in good order. He’s back training at Churchill Downs, and one of those two races are on the radar for him.”

The Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap will be run at 1 1/8 miles on April 20.

The Grade 2, $750,000 Alysheba is over 1 1/16 miles on May 3.

On the same Essex card, Nash won the Hot Springs Stakes. It was going a mile for 3-year-olds, and he won in hand by more than five lengths. Cox trains the horse for Godolphin.

“He’ll breeze this weekend at Churchill Downs, in preparation for the Pat Day Mile,” Cox said.

The Grade 2, $600,000 Pat Day Mile for 3-year-olds is May 4 at Churchill.

Florent Geroux rode both horses at Oaklawn.

“First Mission, it was an easy win to start with, a very good spot to give him some confidence back,” Geroux said. “He’s meant to be a really nice horse. He didn’t like the track at Gulfstream. He didn’t fire at all. He definitely could win a Grade 1 down the road. That’s what I think.”

◗ Oaklawn is racing on Sunday this week. It was one of two dates added to the calendar to make up for cards lost to snow.

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