M G Warrior pointing to Razorback Handicap

Following a sharp allowance win at Oaklawn Park, M G Warrior is headed to the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap on Feb. 18, trainer Dallas Stewart said.

“He’s coming off a two-race win streak with a very nice win at Oaklawn,” Stewart said of the 4-year-old colt. “We’re going to challenge him there and see what happens.”

The Razorback Handicap will share a card with the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds and the Grade 3, $200,000 Bayakoa for fillies and mares. All three stakes will be at 1 1/16 miles. Entries will be taken Friday, Feb. 15.

M G Warrior is 3 for 3 at the Razorback distance. He won a maiden special weight at the trip last March at Fair Grounds, and his last two wins also came at 1 1/16 miles. The first was in an optional $62,500 claiming allowance Nov. 22 at Churchill Downs with a Beyer Speed Figure of 91, and the second Jan. 26 at Oaklawn earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89. Overall, the horse is 4 for 8 and is owned by Chrysalis Stables.

M G Warrior is part of a 12-horse division Stewart has at Oaklawn, where in 2016 he won the Grade 1 Apple Blossom with Forever Unbridled. This is the first time Stewart has had a stable at Oaklawn, and the record purses at the meet were a draw, he said.

Another horse pointing to that Monday card of stakes at Oaklawn is Gray Attempt, a multiple stakes winner who is targeting the Southwest. Trainer Jinks Fires said Gray Attempt is scheduled to work for the race on Sunday.

“He’s doing good,” Fires said.

Gray Attempt won the $150,000 Smarty Jones last month at his Oaklawn base, getting 10 Kentucky Derby points. The Southwest also offers points for the Kentucky Derby, on a scale of 10-4-2-1 for the first four finishers.

Oaklawn will move into a five-day race week Thursday, running through the holiday card Monday.