Turning back the clock under regular rider Florent Geroux, Warrior's Charge ($5.60) recorded a 9 3/4-length victory after tracking isolated leader Fact Finding for much of the 1 1/16-mile race and seizing command on the outside turning for home. The final time of 1:45.50 over a fast track generated a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 101, which equaled a career high. It was the first time Warrior's Charge, a 6-year-old son of Munnings, crossed the finish line first since the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) for older horses in February 2020 at Oaklawn.

Warrior's Charge, who has evolved into a stalker after being a confirmed front-runner earlier in his career, will target the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 miles March 19, trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday afternoon.

“He's always been a good horse,” Cox said. “He's obviously a multiple Grade 3 winner. It was big. He got a big figure at Keeneland in the fall. He didn't win, but he was right there at the wire with a couple of other horses. On his day, he can show that he can run a triple-digit Beyer and be a factor in stake races as he's been in the past.”

After winning the Razorback, Warrior's Charge finished second in the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in May 2020 at Oaklawn and fourth in the $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) in July 2020 at Belmont Park. Warrior's Charge – via a disqualification for interference near the wire – was elevated to first in the $200,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) the following month at Monmouth Park.

Warrior's Charge wouldn't win again until Jan. 28, a span of 10 starts. The stretch included a nose loss to Thomas Shelby at 1 1/16 miles in an Oct. 24 allowance race at Keeneland – each horse received a 101 Beyer – and a fourth-place finish behind millionaire multiple Grade 2 winner Lone Rock, Thomas Shelby and Beau Luminarie in the inaugural $200,000 Tinsel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Dec. 18 at Oaklawn.

Warrior's Charge is co-owned by Ten Strike Racing (founding partners Marshall Gramm and Arkansas native Clay Sanders) and Madaket Stables (Sol Kumin). Ten Strike, which considers Oaklawn its home track, offers fractional ownership in horses to investors. Warrior's Charge recorded his first two career victories (both at 1 1/16 miles) by a combined 12 ½ front-running lengths at the 2019 Oaklawn meeting before finishing fourth in the Preakness in his next start.

“He's a very sound horse,” Cox said. “He's obviously a Ten Strike horse, which comes with a lot of fanfare there. There's a lot of partners in on him in the region, so it's always good for him to perform well there at Oaklawn.”

Cox said the “next logical spot” for Warrior's Charge is the Essex, a major local prep for the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 23. Warrior's Charge was fifth in last year's Oaklawn Handicap. The horse has never started in the Essex.

The Jan. 28 victory was the sixth in 21 starts overall for Warrior's Charge and boosted his earnings to $1,116,890. Before his sparkling allowance victory last month, Warrior's Charge had been upstaged by his rapidly improving younger half-sister, Warrior's Battle, during the 2021-2022 meeting that began Dec. 3.

Warrior's Battle became the meet's first three-time winner in a Jan. 22 starter/optional claimer, coasting to a 9 ¾-length victory in her two-turn debut for Cox and co-owners Ten Strike Racing and Titletown Racing Stables (Paul Farr). She paid $3.80 as the heavy 4-5 favorite.

Warrior's Battle, racing for a $40,000 claiming tag, broke her maiden by 7 ¼ lengths Dec. 5 and was a four-length starter/optional claiming winner Jan. 7.

“Probably won't run her back quite as quick as we did last time,” Cox said. “She gave us enough confidence with her last start to give her another run around two turns. There's obviously more money around two turns than there is one turn in Thoroughbred racing most of time.”

Warrior's Battle, a 3-year-old daughter of Khozan, was withdrawn from Keeneland's January Horses of All Ages Sale approximately a week before her two-turn victory because “we didn't believe that that was the best way to optimize value,” Farr said.

Now, her value seems to be increasing.

“We'll give her time,” Cox said. “I think like a first-level allowance is a logical spot. If she performs well there, I think we'll turn our attention toward some stakes.”

Purchased for $50,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Warrior's Battle has a 3-0-1 record from five lifetime starts and earnings of $79,500.

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“We felt really confident that he had moved forward from last year, his 3-year-old year,” Stidham explained. “We could tell just by the way he was training and how he seemed mentally and physically. We felt we had him ready to go to Oaklawn Park and run a good race, but then we got there there was rain and a sea of slop on the track. You don't know for sure how they're going to handle a wet track like that, although his dam (multiple G1 winner) Music Note won a Grade 1 in the slop, so that gave us a little confidence. Then when you watch the race, you see he was four- and five-wide on the turns–you worry about that–but then he pulled away like he did in the stretch and earned a 108 Beyer (Speed Figure), which exceeded our expectations.

“Sometimes you worry, when a horse goes far past their top number, that there could be a good chance of a 'bounce,' but he's certainly come out great and he's looking fantastic,” the 48-time graded stakes-winning conditioner continued. “He's back here at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans and will have a work here before we ship. I have no reason to believe he's going to regress, so we'll see how he handles the travelling. If all is well, we'll get an easy breeze over the track at Meydan.”

A well-made chestnut with a flashy blaze, the blue-blooded homebred is another in a long line of graded stakes performers brought along deliberately by the Stidham operation that is co-spearheaded by longtime assistant Hilary Pridham. The training yard has flourished with an impressive breadth of runners, including juveniles, older horses, sprinters, routers, dirt and turf runners. The highlight reel includes G1-winning fillies Sutra, Two Altazano, Her Emmynency and Zipessa, as well as G2/G3-winning older males Synchrony, Manzotti and Willcox Inn–but it is in the last few years, when teaming with Godolphin, that the bar has been raised.

As recent as last weekend, Godolphin, Stidham and jockey Luis Saez–Mystic Guide's expected pilot in Dubai–joined forces to bring home Micheline in the Hillsborough Stakes (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs, the ninth graded stakes Stidham has won for HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Mystic Guide has earned two of those, including Saratoga's Jim Dandy (G2) in decisive style over Jesus' Team, whom he likely faces again in Dubai. That effort was part of a carefully crafted sophomore season for the three-time winner from seven starts (never worse than third).

“We've made the same types of decisions with him throughout his career,” Stidham said. “Through the whole of his 3-year-old year, we had temptations to run in the Arkansas Derby (G1) after his big maiden win and then the postponed Kentucky Derby (G1). We never felt he was quite ready to win those races just yet. He was a step behind where he needed to be for us to feel confident, so we waited for 3-year-old races like the Peter Pan and the Jim Dandy. It was the right thing to do. You could see him gradually improving as the year went on.

“We decided to try him in a Grade 1 in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and he ran a great race to be second, improving again, but we felt like he wasn't quite where he needed to be to win the Breeders' Cup Classic,” he continued. “We just did what was right for him and never forced him into any spot. We gave him a break, but he never left the track, and we were able to fresh him over the winter. Now we're reaping the rewards of doing that.”

A charismatic type who is loved around the Stidham barn, Mystic Guide enters the 10-furlong (2000m) contest on March 27 as a favorite of tipsters, as well.

“He's straight-forward and is an easy-galloping horse on the track,” Stidham continued. “He can be a little aggressive around the barn, but he's a really intelligent horse. I have had a lot of really great older turf horses, but I haven't had an older dirt handicap horse like him, so it's a lot of fun for me.”

Stidham's relationship with Godolphin is part of the recent expansion and resulting success the 'Boys in Blue' have had in America, including 2020 champion Essential Quality with Brad Cox and once-beaten star Maxfield with Brendan Walsh. Stidham, like many of the trainers working for the operation, is justifiably hopeful for an even brighter future.

“It's been an unbelievable time,” he explained. “To have horses like Mystic Guide, his half-brother Gershwin, Micheline, (G2 Del Mar Derby winner) Pixelate and Proxy, who could be a (Kentucky) Derby horse–it's a lot of really amazing things going on right now. I have to pinch myself, sometimes, because I've been in the business 45 years and watched these horses with other trainers. For me to actually have a couple is pretty outstanding.

“When we get our 2-year-olds in April, we may get 15 or 20 of them, and you immediately see the stallion power with sires like Hard Spun, Tapit, Curlin, Medaglia d'Oro and others that are coupled with mares like Panty Raid (G1-winning dam of Micheline) and Music Note. It's only a matter of time before the pedigrees line up. I really want to thank and congratulate Jimmy Bell and Dan Pride at Godolphin for doing a fantastic job diversifying things and spreading these horses throughout the country with all these trainers.”

First things first, as Stidham is doing anything but resting on his laurels. The 18% lifetime conditioner is fixated on his first global success when he starts Mystic Guide against a field that likely includes Jesus' Team, as well as G1 Champions Cup winner Chuwa Wizard, multiple graded stakes winner Sleepy Eyes Todd and UAE stars Salute the Soldier and Military Law.

“We're going there with a lot of confidence,” Stidham concluded. “I think the track will suit him and one of his best races was going a mile and a quarter. From what I've seen watching previous Dubai World Cups, it looks like you don't want to be too far back and he's a tactical horse. He can be laying in a forward-type of position at that distance and we know he can get the distance. With all those things included, I'm very optimistic about our chances.”

Luck permitting, Mystic Guide and the remainder of the American DWC contingent are expected to arrive in Dubai on March 17, St Patrick's Day. Stidham and Pridham will join soon after to oversee final preparations.

The post Stidham Shipping Mystic Guide To Dubai World Cup ‘With A Lot Of Confidence’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A Godolphin homebred out of the five-time Grade 1-winning millionaire Music Note (A.P. Indy), Mystic Guide won the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes last year before finishing a close second to Happy Saver in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Plans call for the 4-year-old to ship from Stidham's base at the Fair Grounds to Miami on March 15, then to the UAE on March 17. No decision has been finalized on a jockey, Stidham said.

Other American horses targeting the Dubai World Cup are Sleepy Eyes Todd and Tacitus, both of whom contested the Saudi Cup and remained overseas.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

The post Razorback Winner Mystic Guide To Ship For Dubai World Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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About 90 minutes before Essential Quality's 3-year-old debut in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3), Godolphin is scheduled to be represented by another homebred, Mystic Guide, in a major local event for older horses.

Mystic Guide is the 9-5 program favorite for the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3), a 1 1/16-mile race that is a major steppingstone toward the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles April 17. Probable post time for the Razorback, which goes as the seventh of 11 races, is 3:20 p.m. (Central).

The Razorback was originally scheduled to be run Feb. 13 before fierce winter weather shuttered racing at Oaklawn for two weeks. It will still mark the 4-year-old debut for the royally bred Mystic Guide, who is by 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper out of millionaire multiple Grade 1 winner Music Note.

Trained by Michael Stidham, Mystic Guide has already built a solid resume in six career starts, winning the $150,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) Sept. 5 at Saratoga before concluding his 2020 campaign with a second-place finish, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the $250,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) Oct. 10 at Belmont Park.

Stidham said the Razorback figures to lead to longer events because of maturity and Mystic Guide's pedigree. The colt, who didn't race at 2, broke his maiden at 1 1/16 miles, is a Grade 2 winner at 1 1/8 miles (Jim Dandy) and nearly a Grade 1 winner at 1 ¼ miles (Jockey Club Gold Cup).

“Those are the races we're going to focus on,” Stidham said. “After this, hopefully, we'll be looking at races, a mile and an eighth, mile and a quarter, those type of races.”

Stidham said he chose to start Mystic Guide's 2021 campaign in the Razorback because Maxfield, yet another unbeaten Godolphin homebred, was being pointed to the $200,000 Mineshaft Stakes (G3) for older horses Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds. Mystic Guide has recorded a series of sharp workouts at Fair Grounds leading up to his 2021 debut.

“The mile and a sixteenth, it'll be a little quicker than what he ran, fractions, in his last couple,” Stidham said. “But, I don't see him being worse than like mid-pack, laying third or fourth, something like that.”

The projected seven-horse Razorback field from the rail out: Silver Prospector, Ricardo Santana Jr. to ride, 117 pounds, 5-1 on the morning line; Hunka Burning Love, David Cabrera, 117, 9-2; Mailman Money, Joe Talamo, 115, 10-1; Owendale, Joel Rosario, 120, 2-1; Rated R Superstar, Ramon Vazquez, 115, 8-1; Long Range Toddy, Jon Court, 116, 12-1; and Mystic Guide, Luis Saez, 121, 9-5.

Millionaire multiple Grade 3 winner Owendale will be making his Oaklawn debut for owner Rupp Racing and Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox. Based most of the last two months at Oaklawn, Owendale hasn't started since finishing third in the $500,000 Clark Stakes (G1) Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs.

Cox said he thought about running Owendale in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, but opted for Oaklawn because of its lucrative series of stakes races for older horses. Owendale has finished first, second or third in 13 of 20 lifetime starts and bankrolled $1,348,435.

“He can adjust,” Cox said, referring to Owendale's running style. “He's been close and still finishes well, when there's not a lot of pace. I feel confident that he'll be able to adjust to whatever the pace seems to be.”

Silver Prospector (2020 Southwest), Long Range Toddy (first division of 2019 Rebel) and Rated R Superstar (2019 Essex) are Oaklawn stakes winners. Hunka Burning Love finished second, beaten a nose, in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses Jan. 23 at Oaklawn.

Owendale, Silver Prospector, Mystic Guide and Long Range Toddy were entered when the race was originally scheduled to be run Feb. 13. It also drew seven entrants.

The post Royally-Bred Mystic Guide Headlines Saturday’s Razorback Handicap appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Razorback is one of three stakes races on Saturday's card, along with the $750,000 Southwest (G3) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles and the $200,000 Spring Fever for older female sprinters. The Southwest will mark the 2021 debut of unbeaten Essential Quality, the country's champion 2-year-old male. Racing begins at 12:15 p.m. (Central), with probable post time for the Razorback, which goes as the seventh of 11 races, 3:20 p.m.

The Razorback was originally scheduled to be run Feb. 13 before fierce winter weather shuttered racing at Oaklawn for two weeks. It will still mark the 4-year-old debut of Godolphin's Mystic Guide, by 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper out of millionaire multiple Grade 1 winner Music Note. Mystic Guide has already built a solid resume in six career starts, winning the $150,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) Sept. 5 at Saratoga before concluding his 2020 campaign with a second-place finish, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the $250,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) Oct. 10 at Belmont Park.

“We were delighted with the way his 3-year-old year turned out,” trainer Mike Stidham said. “There were a lot of temptations to run in the Derby and different spots and the timing just wasn't right. It just seemed like he needed a little bit more time, so we kept being real patient with him and let him develop. As he developed and those other races showed up, we always felt like a mile and an eighth and farther was going to be helpful to him. Turned out great. He won a Grade 2 and placed in a Grade 1 as a 3-year-old, so now we're hoping for an even better 4-year-old year.”

Mystic Guide has recorded a series of sharp workouts at Fair Grounds leading up to his 2021 debut. Stidham said he chose to start Mystic Guide's 2021 campaign in the Razorback because unbeaten Maxfield, another Godolphin homebred, was being pointed to the $200,000 Mineshaft Stakes (G3) Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds.

“With Maxfield also being at being at the Fair Grounds, they didn't want to run them against each other,” Stidham said of Godolphin. “It was decided that Maxfield was going to stay here and we would go to Oaklawn. That was how it all worked out.”

Maxfield moved to 5 for 5 with a 3 ¼-length victory in the Mineshaft, which marked his 4-year-old debut. Mystic Guide will have a chance to complete the Godolphin older horse stakes double in the Razorback, a major local prep for the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 17.

Mystic Guide was the 3-1 second choice in the program after the race was originally drawn. Mystic Guide was among seven horses entered Tuesday, the others being Silver Prospector, Hunka Burning Love, Mailman Money, Owendale, Rated R Superstar and Long Range Toddy.

Stidham has 19 career victories at Oaklawn, with almost one-third (six) coming in stakes events. Stidham won the $250,000 Fantasy (G2) for 3-year-old fillies in 1994 with Two Altazano, 1999 Razorback with Desert Air and four more stakes with crack Arkansas-bred sprinter Comedero, including the $60,000 Mountain Valley in open company in 2010.

“Most of the time when we make the ship, it's usually for a stakes, so we probably have run in more stakes than anything there,” Stidham said. “We hope our success continues.”

The Southwest, Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby points races, drew a field of seven. In addition to Essential Quality and multiple Grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior, Saffa's Day, Last Samurai, Santa Cruiser, Woodhouse and Spielberg are also entered.

Oaklawn stakes winners Amy's Challenge and Kimari are among nine horses entered in the 5 1/2-furlong Spring Fever. Also entered are Cashcheckorcharge, Sunny Dale, Casual, Headland, Ain't No Elmers, Shesomajestic and Best Kept Secret.

Probable post time for the Spring Fever, race 8, is 3:52 p.m. Probable post time for the Southwest, race 10, is 4:58 p.m.

The post ‘Hoping For An Even Better 4-Year-Old Year’: G2 Winner Mystic Guide Returns In Razorback appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The schedule and purse changes include:

· Immediately bringing back nearly $2 million in canceled stakes, including the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) and the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3), which will now be run Saturday, Feb. 27 along with the $200,000 Spring Fever Stakes.

· Adding 27 races to the schedule.

· Adding two new race days – Wednesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 28.

· Increasing the purses on all overnight races by as much as $4,000 per race.

“There's no fighting Mother Nature, especially when our priority is safety,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said. “However, we feel these changes will greatly benefit our horsemen and our fans by creating a huge weekend of racing to kick off the rest of the season.”

The purse increase will go into effect Thursday, Feb. 25 when racing is scheduled to resume. The weekend will be highlighted by a total of six stakes races starting Saturday when the $750,000 Southwest, $600,000 Razorback and the $200,000 Spring Fever will be run. Sunday will be highlighted by the $250,000 Bayakoa (G3), $150,000 Dixie Belle and $150,000 Downthedustyroad. Nominations for all stakes were reopened and will close Friday, Feb. 19.

The purses increases will average 5 percent per overnight race, meaning maiden special weights will be increased from $82,000 to $86,000 and top allowance races will increase from $88,000 to as much as $92,000.

Cella said these late-breaking changes would not have been possible without the input and assistance of Arkansas Racing Commission Chairman Alex Lieblong and HBPA President Bill Walmsley.

“Winter dealt us a bad hand,” said Cella. “With their help, we truly are making lemonade out of lemons and with these changes, the balance of the season will be terrific.”

Due to Arkansas restrictions on crowd size, attendance at Oaklawn for live racing is limited to box holders, Oaklawn Jockey Club members, and patrons with dining/simulcast reservations. However, Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith anticipates being able to open the Oaklawn infield and other outdoor areas to fans in the coming weeks. Reservations can be made by calling 501-363-4660, Mon-Sat, for that week's races only.

For more information, visit www.Oaklawn.com.

Nominations for all stakes were reopened and will close Friday, Feb. 19.

Saturday, Feb. 27 Stakes – Entries to be drawn Tuesday, Feb. 23

$750,000 Southwest (G3)

$600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3)

$200,000 Spring Fever

Sunday, Feb. 28 Stakes – Entries to be drawn Wednesday, Feb. 24

$250,000 Bayakoa (G3)

$150,000 Dixie Belle

$150,000 Downthedustyroad

The post Oaklawn Reschedules Stakes, Increases Overnight Purses; Southwest Moved To Feb. 27 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Races are officially canceled from Thursday, Feb. 18, through Sunday, Feb. 21.

Oaklawn last raced on Feb. 11.

The Hot Springs area has been hit with several inches of snow so far, and the forecast is calling for another six to 10 inches in the coming days.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

The post Oaklawn Cancels Races For Second Straight Weekend; Stakes Rescheduled Feb. 25-28 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3), $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3), and $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) will now be run Saturday, Feb. 20 and the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes and $150,000 Downthedustyroad Stakes will be run Sunday, Feb. 21.

“The weather forecast does not look promising this weekend between the ice and frigid temperatures, so out of consideration for the safety of the horses, our horsemen and fans, we wanted to make this call as soon as possible,” General Manager Wayne Smith said. “We appreciate the cooperation we have received from our horsemen and Racing Commission. Though we are frustrated Mother Nature has thrown us a curveball, our rescheduled stakes will create a spectacular weekend of racing next week.”

Oaklawn expects to run the Thursday and Friday cards as scheduled. Post time is at 1 p.m. on both days. The casino and simulcast racing will remain open all weekend. No reservations will be required for seating in the simulcast area this weekend only, first come, first served.

Entries for the Saturday, Feb. 20 card will be taken on Sunday, Feb. 14. Oaklawn will run 11 races next Saturday and 10 races next Sunday.

All reservations made for Saturday, Feb. 13 – Monday, Feb. 15 have been cancelled. Fans wishing to attend the races Feb. 18 -21 must call 501-363-4660 starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 15. Reservation lines are open Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.Oaklawn.com.

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