Alexander Helios Shines Bright in a Nail-Biting Edition of the Razorback

[Wandering Eyes]

If you're going to make your stakes debut in graded company, may as well go big, right? Alexander Helios (Cairo Prince) certainly thought so as he took his grudge match with Banishing (Ghostzapper) down to the wire in the GIII Razorback Handicap.

It took him eight tries to break his maiden, and a new trainer, but that 2 1/4-length victory beneath the Twin Spires in November 2023 yielded him a 93 Beyer in his first attempt at 1 1/8-miles for the barn of Saffie Joseph Jr.. It took three attempts to graduate from the first-level allowance ranks after he beat optional claimers at Tampa Bay Downs to start his 2024, but he did so at this venue in April last year for trainer Dan Ward.

Returning to Joseph in May that season, he was runner-up to MGSW Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) before going on the shelf until Jan. 18. Making his seasonal bow a successful one at Gulfstream Park, he emerged from that effort with a career-best 95 Beyer, and the betting public saw fit to make him a respectable 8-1 chance to play spoiler.

And spoil it, he did.

Never letting 3-1 second choice Banishing far out of his sights as the sprinter-turned-two-turn horse rolled along through :23.81, :47.60, and 1:11.42 splits, Alexander Helios was ready to pounce when they swung into the lane. Locking horns from the top of the stretch and slugging it out down to the last jump at the wire, the exacta had to be separated by a photo with a head being the official margin. Always in third and comfortably holding that position to the wire was 2-1 favorite First Mission (Street Sense), who came within a neck of making it a three-way affair for the victory.

Alexander Helios is the third to garner black-type for his dam behind Listed-placed Cono (Lucky Pulpit) and GI Preakness Stakes hero Rombauer (Twirling Candy). From seven to the races for Cashmere, six are multiple winners and the seventh is the placed 3-year-old filly Brown Sugar (Twirling Candy). The mare has a juvenile colt by Constitution as well as a yearling colt by Tapit already named Cheval Blanc. She is due to Gun Runner for 2025.

Cashmere is an unraced half-sister to a fleet of accomplished racehorses and broodmares, most notably MGSW California Flag (Avenue of Flags) and his full-sister MGSW Cambiocorsa. The latter mare created a female line which yielded the likes of GSW Moulin De Mougin (Curlin) and her daughter GSP Spicer (Quality Road); GSW Schiaparelli (Ghostzapper); SW & GSP Bronson (Medaglia d'Oro); and GISP Vionnet (Street Sense), whose late son–namely multiple Highweight, multiple Group 1-winning Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy)–propelled her into stardom.

 

What a finish in the Razorback!

Alexander Helios comes out on top in a photo finish under @tyler_gaff for trainer @SaffieJosephJr!

TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/liABpVISO6

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) February 23, 2025

Sunday, Oaklawn Park
RAZORBACK H.-GIII, $500,000, Oaklawn, 2-23, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:41.88, ft.
1–ALEXANDER HELIOS, 117, h, 5, by Cairo Prince
           1st Dam: Cashmere, by Cowboy Cal
           2nd Dam: Ultrafleet, by Afleet
           3rd Dam: Social Conduct, by Vigors
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-John & Diane Fradkin (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $232,500. Lifetime Record: 15-5-3-3, $542,170. *1/2 to Rombauer (Twirling Candy), GISW, $1,040,500; 1/2 to Cono (Lucky Pulpit), SP, $191,982. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Banishing, 119, g, 5, Ghostzapper–Dowager, by A.P. Indy. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($80,000 4yo '24 FTKHRA). O-Lawrence P. Roman and David Jacobson; B-Godolphin (KY); T-David Jacobson. $77,500.
3–First Mission, 122, h, 5, Street Sense–Elude, by Medaglia d'Oro. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $38,750.
Margins: HD, NK, 6. Odds: 8.00, 3.00, 2.40.
Also Ran: Full Screen, Skinner, Crupi, Red Route One, Henro, Baddest Good Boy, Creative Minister, Dimatic, Tonka Warrior, Cooke Creek, Seize the Night.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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