Race Day edges Midnight Hawk to win Razorback Handicap

Hot Springs, AR (Sports Network) – Lightly raced Race Day, ridden by John Velazquez, edged out Midnight Hawk at the wire to capture Saturday’s $250,000 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

Tapiture and Race Day were the 2-1 co-favorites in the six-horse field for the 1 1/16-mile Azeri. Midnight Hawk, ridden by Victor Espinoza, was 7-1 and broke from post 3.

Midnight Hawk set the pace with Race Day pressing him from the outside over a sloppy track. Carve was running third followed by Tapiture, Ride On Curlin and Golden Ticket.

Midnight Hawk and Race Day continued on the lead into the far turn and coming into the stretch. Race Day took a short lead at the top of the stretch but lugged out a bit to give Midnight Hawk an opening along the rail.

The two 4-year-old gray colts battled through the stretch with Race Day posting a head victory over Midnight Hawk. Golden Ticket rallied to finish third followed by Carve, Tapiture and Ride On Curlin. I Got It All was scratched.

The time for the Razorback was 1:44.88.

Trained by Todd Pletcher for Matthew Schera, Race Day recorded his fourth win while making just his seventh career start. Notching his first stakes win meant the colt added $150,000 to his bankroll which now totals $250,450.

Race Day opened his 2015 season with a third-place finish at Gulfstream Park in the Fred W, Hooper Stakes on Feb. 7. Pletcher won last year’s Razorback with Golden Lad.

Race Day paid $6.20, $4.80 and $3.60. Midnight Hawk returned $6.80 and $4.40, and Golden Ticket paid $5.60 to show.

Categorized in: Horses