Graded Cast From ‘Skippy’ Defense At Oaklawn To Endlessly Going On At Santa Anita

[Wandering Eyes]

The sun is shining and the birds are singing, which means that spring has sprung and hopefully cold blasts are fixed over yonder. This kind of weather propagates the condition known to many as Derby fever, which technically has no definable cure.

So, while you're tinkering with mint julep recipes or heading to the dry cleaners with your seersucker to keep the vapors in check, maybe what you need is to take a look at the weekend's graded stakes slate. The races are chock full of options, so let's not spare the horses and get to it.

 

Like Peanut Butter & Jelly

The meet in Hot Springs is coming to a close rapidly, but on Saturday the track off Central Avenue is ready to put on another edition of the GII Oaklawn Handicap. In his latest piece, TDN Racing Editor Steve Sherack admirably covers the preparation behind 'Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense). The Brad Cox trainee was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite by Rick Lee.

Last year, trainer Saffie Joseph won this race with MGSW Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), who was a $37,000 OBS April grad for Daniel Alonso. With almost $3.5-million in earnings to his credit, the 6-year-old is back to try and do it again. Last out, Skippylongstocking notched his third GIII Challenger Stakes at Tampa in early March.

“I think he's coming in in good form,” trainer Saffie Joseph said. “I expect a good run, hopefully. I do think he likes to be forwardly placed. Hopefully, he breaks well from there and puts himself in a forward position. There's some speed in there that he can stalk if he needs to. If he broke well enough, he can lead, also.”

Alexander Helios #4 surges late | Coady Media

At the Oaklawn gate, the 6-year-old will be joined by his stablemate and GIII Razorback Handicap hero Alexander Helios (Cairo Prince), who clearly like the local strip.

“Obviously, stepped up his game and ran well last time [in the Razorback],” Joseph said. “He beat Banishing, who came back to win the [GIII Oaklawn Mile]. He's in good form and he goes over there with a very good chance himself. We feel like we have two horses that are in good [form] and, hopefully, they run their best races on that day.”

Speaking of Banishing (Ghostzapper), the gelding will look to stretch back out for trainer David Jacobson after that Oaklawn Mile score on the Arkansas Derby undercard.

Also set for a start are a pair of Winchell homebreds trained by Steve Asmussen. The last time they hit the Oaklawn surface GSW Disarm won an optional claimer and MGSW Red Route One took home the GIII Essex Handicap. Both entries are on the Gun Runner-Tapit cross that ownership used to effect in the breeding shed with MGISW Society.

 

Cheerful In All Weathers

It was a wild start to the Keeneland Spring meet with all of the schedule changes, but horse racing is about adaptation. Keeneland rolled with the punches that were thrown by a serious round of storms.

On Saturday, the track has two graded races scheduled. First, the GII VisitLEX Elkhorn Stakes pits a good group of deep turf routers against one another. If there is any 'give' in the ground, then look for MGSW Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) to outrun his 8-1 morning-line odds. The Phil D'Amato trainee will be making his 20th consecutive graded stakes start, which is quite an accomplishment.

“I was a little concerned about the 12 post, but he'll just drop over to the rail at the back of the pack and watch them all,” said Phil D'Amato assistant Glenn Brookfield.

Balnikhov like some 'give' | Horsephotos

“I think he can get a mile and a half,” he said. “The time he did, he just got a beat a half-length [in last fall's GII Hollywood Turf Cup].”

The ultra-consistent Limited Liability (Kitten's Joy) was tabbed by Nick Tammaro as the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the 6-year-old only missed by a neck when third in the GIII William L. McKnight Stakes at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25.

Also drawn for the Elkhorn is Todd Pletcher trainee & MGSW Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro), plus do not overlook the one-eyed wonder Rebel Red (GB) (Frankel {GB}) from the Cherie DeVaux barn.

Heading to the main track and going 1 3/16ths in the GIII Ben Ali Stakes is a group of seven, which includes 5-2 morning-line favorite Duke of Love (Cupid). The Josie Carroll trainee successfully fought an infection and after 18 months made it back to the track. The 6-year-old owned by MyRacehorse was fifth on return facing optional claimers at Gulfstream Mar. 1.

“That was a good comeback race with a solid group of horses and a genuinely tough race,” trainer Josie Carroll said. “He's an honest horse who shows up every time, and that race showed he was back at a good level.”

An entry looking to flip the script and pull off an upset is GISP Piroli (Battle of Midway). The gelding has a win over the track when he beat optional claimers last October for trainer Michael McCarthy.

 

Great Racing At That Place

Out at Santa Anita over the weekend you can find a couple of graded options.

The Saturday feature is the GII Santa Maria Stakes for older fillies and mares traveling 1 1/16th on the dirt. Trainer Bob Baffert holds a pair of aces in GISP Splendora (Audible) and GSW Richi (Chi) (Practical Joke). Do not be surprised if they run first and second, but maybe Sun Of Hill (Brz) (Camelot Kitten) can spoil the Hall of Famer's exacta.

Endlessly is back in California | Benoit

Spinning into Sunday the turf will take center stage as Endlessly (Oscar Performance) makes his return to California in the GIII American Stakes.

As a juvenile, the colt rattled off three wins to start his career, which included after his broke his maiden the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes and the GIII Zuma Beach Stakes.

Amerman Racing celebrated when the bay got his picture taken in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks the following spring. The Derby fever was strong and they rolled the dice on the first Saturday in May. Finishing a respectable ninth in the big race, the Michael McCarthy trainee then was fifth in the GI Belmont Derby at Aqueduct in early July. By August his conditioner sent him to the bench for a rest.

Now ready for his 4-year-old debut, Endlessly will face a formidable opponent in King of Gosford (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). The chestnut might be coming off nearly a fourth-month break himself, but his class is undeniable. Last year the Phil D'Amato trainee ended his season with a front-running score in the GII Mathis Mile Stakes at Santa Anita in late December.

If neither layoff runner is prepared to fire, then GISP Zio Jo (Nyquist) or MGSW Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile) would be happy to head to the winner's circle.

For some expert handicapping analysis, download tonight's TDN and refer to the 'Graded Stakes Entries' section.

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