Proxy gets up in final strides to win Oaklawn Handicap

Proxyran down the leaders in a bumpy stretch drive to prevail in a three-horse photo finish for thevictory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap.

TheGodolphin homebred ridden by Joel Rosario settled into fifth-place early while SantaAnita Handicap (G1) winner Stilleto Boy set the early pace, pushed by ClassicCauseway through fractions of 23.23 and 47.64 seconds for the first quarter-and half-mile.

Proxywas still fifth as the horses entered the stretch but quickly gained groundafter going six wide. He got up in the final strides to prevail by a head overdefending Oaklawn Handicap winner Last Samurai, who was closing quickly downthe rail. Stilleto Boy finished a nose behind in third. The final time was 1:49.68over 1 1/8 miles on the fast track.

HE GOT THERE!

#4 PROXY (@gainesway Tapit) wins the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for @godolphin under @JRosarioJockey@JockeyCam and drone cam in this thriller! #2 Last Samurai second, #3 Stilleto Boy third; no change after an inquiry. pic.twitter.com/O43EUgilZJ

— TVG (@TVG) April 22, 2023

“I thought we would be a little closer than we were,” said winning rider Joel Rosario, who won his second straight $1 million race at Oaklawn following the victory last Saturday in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) aboard Clairière. “We always try to be in the clear on the outside. It looked like for a second when we hit the last turn, he took himself back a little bit. But he came back, and when hit the stretch turning for home, he’s got that long stride, and he kept getting to them, getting to them. Finally, he got them at the wire. It was a good race.”

Señor Buscador, Charge It, Classic Causeway and Rated R Superstar completed the order of finish.

“I knew there was enough speed to set up his late run,” winning trainer Michael Stidham said. “The way it went, with Charge It sitting right in behind them (speed horses) and us outside of him, the only concern was turning for home, it looked like he was trying to drop out of it again. But Joel had him out there for a reason, to stay out from behind the dirt.”

Proxy, who was coming off a narrow second behind Stilleto Boy in the Big ’Cap, improved his record to 16: 5-6-2 and has earned $1,775,970. The son of Tapit returned $9.40, $4 and $2.80 at odds of 7-2.

Stewards reviewed the finish of the race before leaving the order of finish as it was and making the results official.