First Mission passes $2M. earnings milestone with Oaklawn Handicap victory

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – First Mission went over $2 million in career earnings Saturday when he came rolling between horses in the lane for a two-length victory over Banishing in the Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap.

The race was richest of three stakes on a 12-race card. First Mission’s trainer-jockey team of Brad Cox and Flavien Prat also won the $200,000 Bathhouse Row with Instant Replay.

First Mission ($4.80) stalked the pace in fourth along the inside in the Oaklawn Handicap as Go West Go moved to the lead from his rail post and set fractions of 22.83 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.67 for the half-mile, joined by 123-pound highweight Skippylongstocking, and eventually, Banishing.

First Mission maintained his stalking position as Banishing took the lead through six furlongs in 1:10.88 and continued with momentum into the stretch. First Mission advanced, had to wait for room at the top of the lane, then was guided between rivals by Prat and the two drove home. First Mission covered 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.09.

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“The trip worked out great,” Prat said in an interview Oaklawn conducted from the infield winner’s enclosure. “We had some good pace in front of us. When he split horses, he just gave me a good run.”

Skippylongstocking, who won last year’s Oaklawn Handicap, finished third, 5 3/4 lengths behind Banishing. The remaining order of finish was Disarm in fourth, followed by Alexander Helios, Red Route One, Tarantino and Go West Go.

First Mission is a son of Street Sense who races for his breeder, Godolphin. He was winning his fourth stakes race and overall is 6 for 12 for earnings of $2,060,170. First Mission was favored over Skippylongstocking and carried 121 pounds on Saturday.

One race prior, Princess Aliyah ($17.20) came rolling through the lane for a 1 1/4-length win over Dare to Fly in the $200,000 Valley of the Vapors. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Quantum Burst.

Princess Aliyah settled just off leaders Dare to Fly and Quantum Burst and overtook her foes in the stretch while covering the mile for 3-year-old fillies in 1:39.17. Luis Saez was aboard the winner for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The daughter of Into Mischief races for BC Stables, Morplay Racing and Joey Platts.

There is no training or racing Sunday at Oaklawn in observance of Easter. The track will have a special card Thursday.

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