Seven to Battle in Razorback Handicap

The second of three graded Stakes races at Oaklawn Park on Saturday goes as race number nine in the form of the $200,000 Grade III Razorback Handicap. The race is open to horses four-years-old and up and will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt.  In what should be a competitive race, Called To Serve has been installed as the lukewarm 5-2 morning line favorite, despite the fact he has been away from the track for more than a year.

Favorite returns after a year away

A winner of the Grade III Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct in 2012, Called To Serve only made one start in 2013, finishing a solid third behind star Game On Dude in the Santa Anita Handicap. After being injured, he was shut down for the rest of 2013. He’s been in the money in nine of 12 lifetime, and will be making his fifth graded-stakes start.  Co-second choices for the Razorback at 3-1 are Taptowne and Governor Charlie. Although without a graded stakes win, Taptowne has been second in two Grade III events, and first or second in eight of his last nine races overall.

Race sets up for an exotic score

Governor Charlie, meanwhile, was last seen in a runner-up effort in the Shrub Stakes at Santa Anita in January. Unraced at two, he has two lifetime wins, including the Grade III Sunland Derby. He was eighth in the 2013 Preakness Stakes. Offering a price for the exotics at 10-1 is Right To Vote. Bouncing between allowance company and minor stakes through most of his 18-race career, he comes into this off two straight wins, including the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn. He was fourth in the Grade III Ack Ack Handicap at Churchill last year.