Oaklawn Park: Majestic City among logical options in Razorback
[bc_video_id:318436:]HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Fury Kapcori would have gone favored in the Grade 3, $200,000 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park on Saturday had he not defected from the race. In his absence, the next best choice in a competitive, seven-horse field might be a runner who was third to him last time, Majestic City.
The Razorback, for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles, shares a card with the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel and the Grade 2, $200,000 Azeri.
Majestic City was third to Fury Kapcori in a Santa Anita allowance Feb. 7, a one-mile race for which Fury Kapcori earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 103. As for Majestic City, he found himself much farther off the pace than usual and figures to be closer in the Razorback, said his trainer, Ron Ellis.
Majestic City wired the field in the $77,000 Big Bear at Santa Anita back in October, winning the race by a neck over Rousing Sermon. He also used his speed when tracking the pace in the Grade 3 Berkley Handicap, finishing second at Golden Gate Fields in November.
Ellis said he had wanted to bring Majestic City to Oaklawn for last month’s $100,000 Essex Handicap, but suitable flight arrangements could not be made from Southern California. Joel Rosario has the mount on Saturday, from post 7.
Majestic City, who races for Bloom Racing Stable, could set the pace or track Taptowne, who could be prominent because of his post and the fact that he’s a fresh horse, said his trainer, Tim Glyshaw. Right to Vote, who won the Essex last out at Oaklawn, is another with natural speed.
Taptowne, a three-time stakes winner making his first start since taking the $150,000 Swatara at Penn National in November, and Called to Serve, a Grade 3 winner, are the Razorback’s starting co-highweights at 117 pounds. Called to Serve will be making his first start since running third in the 2013 Santa Anita Handicap.
“He’s a great big racehorse coming off a year layoff,” said his trainer, Steve Asmussen. “He needs this race now. He will improve because of it.”
Golden Lad makes his stakes debut after winning three consecutive optional claiming races at Gulfstream Park, while Govenor Charlie was second last out in the Grade 2 Strub.
◗ Grade 2 winner Bourbon Courage enters the sixth race, a $62,000 allowance, off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Donn. He will remove blinkers for trainer Kellyn Gorder, who noted the last two races the horse has been in have gone in track-record time at Gulfstream.