Godolphin homebred First Mission has always shown promise throughout his career, but after his strong victory in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 19 his connections are hopeful 2025 will be his breakout season.
"We were looking forward to keeping him in training and maybe see if we can win a grade 1 down the road with him or maybe a couple of them," Godolphin USA's director of bloodstock Michael Banahan told FanDuel TV's Joaquin Jaime. "It was his best race he's run up to this point and we were so excited seeing him be able to do that."
The high praise came in the Brad Cox-trained Street Sense horse's second start off a 6 1/2-month layoff following a weakening seventh-place effort in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course in August. In his comeback race, the Feb. 23 Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park, he was defeated a neck in third by Alexander Helios and Banishing.
First Mission raced against an apparent speed bias that day and had been closing on the front-runners at the wire. In the rematch at Oaklawn Saturday, despite some traffic issues he reversed his fortunes and conquered both those rivals as well as the defending winner of the Oaklawn Handicap, Skippylongstocking.
"He showed he's a talented horse in the past," his jockey, Flavien Prat, told Oaklawn's Nancy Holthus. "I think pace was key today and he had a race under his belt, and it made the difference."
Early on the race could not have unfolded any better for Prat as longshot Go West Go seduced Skippylongstocking into a speed duel, setting an opening quarter of :22.83. Prat settled in fourth along the rail with First Mission.
When Go West Go raised the white flag after a half-mile in :46.67, Banishing moved forward to guarantee Skippylongstocking received no breather. Alexander Helios and jockey Luis Saez moved alongside First Mission and tried to trap him behind the front-runners as they turned for home. However, Banishing floated off the turn and opened a hole between himself and Skippylongstocking. Prat called up First Mission to kick on, which he did with no hesitation to rally between horses.
Taking the lead with a furlong to go, he turned away a determined Banishing and was moving away at the wire to win by two lengths. Skippylongstocking held off Disarm for third.
"The trip just worked out great," Prat said. "We had some good pace in front of us, and I was traveling well all the way around. When he split horses, he just gave me a good run. It was a great job by Brad and his team, he told me that the horse was training outstanding, and was right."
First Mission completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.09 and paid $4.80 to win as the favorite. With his victory, First Mission earned a fees-paid berth to the $250,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) May 16 at Pimlico Race Course on Preakness Stakes weekend.
The Oaklawn Handicap marked the first time Prat rode First Mission. It was a second Oaklawn stakes victory for both Prat and Cox Saturday after winning the $200,000 Bathhouse Row Stakes with Gary and Mary West's Instant Replay.
The triumph was a fourth at the graded level for First Mission, increasing his career earnings to $2,060,170. At 3, he won the 2023 Lexington Stakes (G3). At 4, he won the Essex Handicap (G3) and Alysheba Stakes (G2).
The dark bay or brown horse has had hard luck at the grade 1 level. A left hind leg issue forced connections to scratch the colt from the 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1) in which he was the second choice on the morning line. In three starts at the top level last year, he finished off the board. All three of those efforts are his only off-the-board finishes in 12 starts.
Banahan is hopeful the Oaklawn Handicap is an indication that Godolphin has a stronger and more mature First Mission that will reverse that luck this year.
"I thought it was a fantastic performance," Banahan said. "This is what we've been waiting to see him do, especially draw off like he did today as well against a quality field. I feel like maybe this could be his year."
First Mission is the second graded stakes winner this year for 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Street Sense, who also sired Ashland Stakes (G1) winner and Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender La Cara. Street Sense stands at Darley's Jonabell Farm near Lexington for a $50,000 fee in 2025. First Mission is out of the winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Elude.
