ARCADIA, Calif. – Forbidden Kingdom, winner of three Grade 2 races at Santa Anita in the last two years, will race outside of California for the first time in the Grade 3 Whitmore Stakes on March 16 at Oaklawn Park, trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday. The $250,000 Whitmore Stakes is run at six furlongs. Forbidden Kingdom has not raced since he won the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf Jan. 30, his first start since late May. Mandella had considered Saturday’s Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn for the 5-year-old Forbidden Kingdom, but said the distance of the Whitmore had greater appeal. “I was thinking of the Razorback, but it’s not enough time to go from a sprint to two turns,” Mandella said. “I like this better.” Forbidden Kingdom races for Spendthrift Farm and the MyRacehorse partnership. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports With Forbidden Kingdom scheduled to run at Oaklawn, Mandella plans to leave Big City Lights at Santa Anita for an intended start in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 16. Big City Lights won his third stakes, and first at the graded level, in the Grade 3 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs on Feb. 10 at Santa Anita. The 3-year-old filly Kopion, beaten for the first time in her career when second in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile for 3-year-old fillies on Feb. 10, is expected to have her next start in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 6. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Mandella said he plans to skip the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 3 with Kopion, who won her stakes debut in the Grade 3 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs on Jan. 7 at Santa Anita. “I’ll give her a little time and point for the Santa Anita Oaks,” Mandella said. “I think it will be good for her.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.