Proxy stumps Last Samurai in quest for sweep

Proxy, under Joel Rosario, edges Last Samurai and Stilleto Boy to win the Grade 2 $1 million Oaklawn Handicap Saturday at Oaklawn. - Photo courtesy of Coady Photography

Last Samurai's quest for a sweep of Oaklawn's three most lucrative two-turn races for older horses in the same year fell just short Saturday at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.

Aiming to win the Grade 2 $1 million Oaklawn Handicap after winning the Grade 3 Razorback and Essex Handicaps, Last Samurai finished second Saturday to Proxy.

Coming into the race, it was no secret that Proxy was a late runner. The Michael Stidham-trained horse finished fifth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational after starting slowly, but Proxy did not mess up his move Saturday. Proxy's late run set up a three-horse photo finish with the Godolphin horse coming out on top.

"I knew there was enough speed to set up his late run," Stidham said. "The way it went, with Charge It sitting right in behind them 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 (Rosario) had him out there for a reason, to stay out from behind the dirt."

Turning for home, it looked like Last Samurai might get that three-race sweep, but battling with Stilleto Boy cost him the race. Proxy was still in fifth when the horses turned for home.

"He ran his heart out, like he always does," Last Samurai jockey Cristian Torres said. "Turning for home, I had the whole rail open for me. When I asked him, he went through for me. (Kent Desormeaux) just tried to lean (Stilleto Boy) on me to keep it going. It worked out for him, but it didn't work out for us. We got beat, just right at the wire. When he bumped me, it took the momentum away a little bit from the horse. He's the type of horse that something small can cost him the race, just like happened today."

Proxy finished the race over a fast track in 1:49.68 and paid $9.40, $4.00 and $2.80 with the win. Proxy has now earned $1,775,970 in 16 career starts with a record of 5-6-2.

Stilleto Boy rounded out the top three, and Senor Buscador followed.

Stilleto Boy set the early pace while pushed by Classic Causeway through fractions of :23 1/5 and :47 3/5 for the first half mile.

"An unlucky head bob," Desormeaux said. "He does what he has to do. He's very talented and I was happy to ride him."

The odds-on favorite Charge It finished fifth, followed by Classic Causeway and Rated R Superstar to round out the field. Rated R Superstar was aiming to become the oldest horse to win a two-turn stakes race at Oaklawn.

In the other two stakes races Saturday, Merlazza took the $150,000 Valley of the Vapors for 3-year-old fillies.

Red Route One beat out Tapit Shoes and Victory Formation to win the $200,000 Bath House Row for 3-year-olds.