Purim best in Razorback

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Purim, who is a graded stakes winner on turf, expanded his resume Sunday when he won the Grade 3, $150,000 at Oaklawn Park.

Purim was a two length winner of the mile and a sixteenth dirt race, with Arch Hall finishing second. It was another two and a half lengths back in third to Thunder Mission, while Rockport Harbor, the 2-5 favorite, set the pace and finished fifth in the Razorback.

Purim ($10.40) settled a few lengths off of Rockport Harbor, who took the lead in the first turn and led the field through fractions of 23.54 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.83 for the half-mile mark, and 1:10.98 for six furlongs as he came under pressure from Chippewa Trail. Purim advanced midway on the final turn, overtook his rivals into the stretch, and went on to cover the distance in 1:43.77.

"I got a good position coming out of the first turn and was thinking if someone will just put some pressure on the favorite, I'm in a real good spot," said Robby Albarado, who rode Purim. "When [Chippewa Trail] went up to challenge Rockport and I had no one behind me to worry about, it was just a question of getting clear in the lane and he kicked in the big late move I expected."

Purim, who is trained by Tom Proctor, earned $90,000 for the win, which was his fifth in 10 career starts. He has now earned $349,543. Purim won the Grade 3 Arlington Classic on turf last July at Arlington Park. He races for his breeder, E.J. Sukley, and is a 4-year-old son of Dynaformer.

Proctor said Purim will likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 8.