Godolphin Homebred First mission Always showed promising throughout his career, but after his sturdy victory in the 1.25 million US dollar Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 19, his connections were confident in 2025 his breakout season.
“We were looking forward to keeping him in training and maybe seeing whether we can win a class 1 with him or maybe a few of you,” said Bloodstock Michael Banahan from Godolphin USA to Joaquin Jaime from Fanduel TV. “It was his best race that he ran up to this point and we were so excited that he was able to do it.”
The high praise came in the Brad Cox-trained Feeling of street The second start of the horse starts a 6 1/2 month Saratoga Race Course in August. In his comeback race on February 23rd Razorbach Handicap (G3) Oaklawn ParkHe was defeated a neck in the third of Alexander Helios And Banish .
The first mission scored against an obvious speed distortion that day and had closed the front conductor in the wire. In the reservoir in Oaklawn Saturday, despite some traffic problems, he reversed his assets and conquered both these competitors and the title winner of the Oaklawn Handicap. Skippylongstocking .
“He showed that he is a talented horse in the past,” said his jockey Flavien Prat to Oaklawn's Nancy Holthus. “I think Pace was the key today and he had a race under his belt and it made the difference.”
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Early in the race could not have developed better for Prat as a long shot Go west seduced skippylong stocking in a speed duel and an opening area of 22.83. Prat settled in fourth place along the rail with the first mission.
When Go West Go increased the white flag after half a mile in: 46.67, the banning was given a guarantee to guarantee skippylong stacking, no breather. Alexander Helios and Jockey Luis Saez drove next to the first mission and tried to catch him behind the front runners when they turned home. However, the exiled hovered from the curve and opened a hole between itself and skippylong stocking. Prat called the first mission to kick what he did without hesitation to gather between horses.
He took the lead with a Furlong to go, turned off a determined ban on the ban and moved away in the wire to win two lengths. Skippylong stocking held Disarm For the third.
The first mission (White Blinkers) wins the Oaklawn Handicap in the Oaklawn Park
“The trip just went great,” said Prat. “We had a good pace ahead of us and I traveled all the way well. When he split horses, he only gave me a good run. It was a great job from Brad and his team, he told me that the horse was excellently trained and was right.”
The first mission completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1: 49.09 and paid 4.80 US dollars to win as a favorite. With his victory, the first mission deserved a fee paid for the $ 250,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) on May 16 at Pimlico Race Course At the weekend of the Preakness Stakes.
The Oaklawn Handicap marked the first time that Prat drove the first mission. It was a second Oaklawn Stakes victory for Prat and Cox on Saturday after winning the 200,000 dollar -Badehaus -Badehaus -series sticks at Gary and Mary West Immediate repetition .
The triumph was a quarter at the graded level for the first mission and increased its career gain to $ 2,060,170. At 3 he won the 2023 Lexington Stakes (G3). At 4 he won the Essex Handicap (G3) and Alysheba Stakes (G2).
Shadowy Bay or the Brown Horse is unlucky in class 1. A problem with the left hind leg compulsory connections to scratch the Colt from the 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1) in which he was the second election in the morning line. In three starts at the top level last year, he ended the board. All three of these efforts are its only off-the-board surfaces in 12 starts.
Banahan is confident that the Oaklawn Handicap is an indication that Godolphin has a stronger and more mature first mission that will reverse this happiness this year.
Connections celebrate the Oaklawn Handicap victory of First Mission of Oaklawn
“I thought it was a fantastic performance,” said Banahan. “We waited to see him, especially as he did today against a quality field. I have the feeling that this might be his year.”
The first mission is the second winner of the stake this year for the winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1) of the Kentucky Derby (G1), who also achieved Ashland Stakes (G1) -Stender and Kentucky Oaks (G1) matter The face . Street Sense stands on Darley's Jonabell Farm near Lexington for a fee of $ 50,000 in 2025. The first mission is not from profit Gold medal mare Escape .
