Top Three Look Tough in Grade 3 Razorback Handicap

Tapiture, the 5/2 morning line favorite in the 1 1/16 event, will have to overcome some racing rust, making his first start since the October 31 Breeders’ Cup Mile where he finished a game second to Goldencents.  The four year-old son of Tapit won three of eight starts in 2014, finishing second three times and earning over $1.2 million with wins in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes, Grade 3 Matt Winn, and Grade 2 West Virginia Derby.  Tapiture has worked forwardly for trainer Steve Asmussen at Fair Grounds and ships to Oaklawn where the colt has made three career starts with a win and a second place finish.  Jockey Ricardo Santana has the mount breaking from the rail. 

No weaknesses in Carve's game 

Carve (3/1) was an impressive winner of the 5th Season Stakes January 16 at Oaklawn in his last start, dispatching eight rivals by three and a quarter lengths in the mile and one sixteenth race while earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 106.  Carve has been successful at Oaklawn throughout his career winning four of seven starts over the local dirt.  The Brad Cox trainee will break from post six under jockey Jesus Castanon. 

Pletcher shipper has live look 

Race Day (7/2) ships in from Gulfstream Park where the lightly-raced colt has posted gargantuan Beyer numbers in his last two starts.  The Todd Pletcher trainee ran a 109 Beyer beating optional claimers December 2 and followed that effort with a 106 while running third in the Grade 3 Hooper Stakes.