Ride On Curlin, Tapiture renew rivalry in Razorback

Ride On Curlin and Tapiture were among the leaders of the Oaklawn Park-based sophomores last year. The two have returned to their old stomping grounds for a rematch in the Grade 3, $250,000 Razorback Handicap, part of a star-studded Saturday card at the Hot Springs, Ark., track.

Ride On Curlin, based at Oaklawn for trainer Billy Gowan, will be making his third start off a long layoff. Tapiture has shipped in from his winter base at Fair Grounds for his season debut. The two colts bookend the field, with Tapiture, the starting highweight at 119 pounds, drawn on the rail under Ricardo Santana Jr. and Ride On Curlin and Jon Court, weighted at 117, outside in the field of seven.

During last year’s prep season at Oaklawn, Tapiture won the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes, with Ride On Curlin third. Tapiture and Ride On Curlin were then second and third to Hoppertunity in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes. In the Arkansas Derby, Ride On Curlin finished second as Tapiture checked in fourth.

After the Kentucky Derby, in which both ran unplaced, their paths diverged. Tapiture turned in a productive season, winning the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes and Grade 2 West Virginia Derby and finishing second to Bayern in the Pennsylvania Derby and second to Goldencents in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

“He had a very good year last season, and he is just one step away from being a great horse,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “We’re going to give him the opportunity to prove himself.”

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Preakness runner-up Ride On Curlin returned from more than seven months on the shelf to win a six-furlong optional claimer Jan. 15 at Oaklawn. He finished second in the Essex Handicap last month at 1 1/16 miles, the distance of the Razorback.

“I think [he] just got a little tired last time, but he’ll be ready and be better this time,” Gowan said.

The elders of the field are headed by Carve, a consistent stakes competitor throughout 2014 before tailing off with two unplaced efforts. The gelding rebounded to post a career-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn on Jan. 10 and has awaited the Razorback.

I Got It All, third in the Essex last out, the graded stakes winners Golden Ticket and Midnight Hawk, and the graded stakes-placed Race Day complete the field for the Razorback, the local prep for the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 11.

Key contenders

Ride On Curlin (Last 3 Beyers: 99-93-N/A)

* Looking for his first stakes win. Has seven placings at the level.

* Court has been aboard for each of Ride On Curlin’s outings this year.

Tapiture (Last 3 Beyers: 105-100-101)

* Rosie Napravnik rode Tapiture for his final four starts of 2014, with two graded stakes wins and two runner-up efforts. With Napravnik retired, Santana, who rode Tapiture to a pair of graded stakes wins, including the Southwest, is back aboard.

Carve (Last 3 Beyers: 106-87-93)

* Has won or placed in nine stakes in a well-traveled career, including a win in the Fifth Season and a third in last year’s Oaklawn Handicap.

* Rain was forecast for Hot Springs on Thursday and Friday, with cloud cover expected Saturday. Carve won the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap in the slop last season.

Midnight Hawk (Last 3 Beyers: 86-72-82)

* Scratched out of last week’s San Carlos and now ships in for this spot.

* Sharp winner of an optional claimer at Santa Anita in his season debut, snapping a seven-race losing streak.

Race Day (Last 3 Beyers: 106-109-86)

* On the board in all six starts. Third in the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper in his stakes debut.

* Owns a 4 1/2-length maiden victory on a muddy track last year.

– additional reporting by Jim Dunleavy