It was a bittersweet day, February 18 at Oaklawn Park when Willis Horton Racing’s connections return to the following winner’s circle The ultimate samurai warrior victory of the Razorback Handicap (G3), without the name of the operation.
Willis Horton, extraordinary horseman, longtime owner and breeder of many top horses, including graded multi-stakes winner Will be responsible and champion Responsible Brandi , died last October at the age of 82 after battling pneumonia. When Horton died, his son, Kevin, pledged to continue his father’s legacy, and in many ways he kept that promise.
Kevin Horton said: “My mother and I went to the race together. “We had a great time. My dad will always be with me and everything goes to him. We have to have a good crowd together…we need it.”
The Razorback was the first graded bet win for the campaign since Horton’s death and it was also the first win for equestrian Cristian Torres at this level. Kevin says he can feel the emotions when Malibu Moon’s 5-year-old son climbs from behind the herd to take the lead. Western Willpower .
“It was a big day for us. The last Samurai, we had a lot of faith in him, had a lot of faith and still are,” Horton said. “He had a really good ride from Cristian Torres and the game plan we just outlined was a T. There were a lot of good horses in that race. … We felt tickled.”
The Last Samurai caught the Razorback Handicap
Intern D. Wayne Lukas has not won a race since the 2022 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) last April. His start against Razorback was a fourth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
“We went to Pegasus with the horse and he did a great job there,” Horton said. “We were hoping we’d have a chance to win it but fourth place was already very good. We weren’t disappointed at all.”
Horton attributes Last Samurai’s success to his love of the Hot Springs oval along with choosing a race that best suits his running style. He said they got an idea of where he would do well when they bought him from the Ocala Breeder’s March Training Sale in 2020 for 175,000 dollars from the Gene Recio shipment.
“Knowing the horse and trying to figure out its strengths and weaknesses…we know that it is a running horse,” says Horton. “He was always a miller. He wasn’t the fastest horse but he could keep riding. The deal with him was not to check or pull him back because he took too long. to gain momentum.”
Connection of the last Samurai in the winner’s circle
The next bout for the horse will likely begin on March 18 Essex Handicap (G3) in Oaklawn.
“Hopefully he’ll be here for a while and we can have some fun with him…we’re looking forward to it and the horse really likes Oaklawn,” Horton said.
Along with The Last Samurai, Horton has many other horses in training, including several 2-year-olds that his father and he bought on their last trip to the Keeneland 2022 Yearling Sale together, as well as as a 3 year old couple.
“They’re with Allen Milligan in Hot Springs (the 2-year-olds) are broken down there and they’re doing great. We have a lot of hope for that. … We just turned 3 – old friends, we’re not having any luck with that. I don’t see any races to get into the Derby; I don’t think you’ll see us there.”
While a trip to the Kentucky Derby (G1) doesn’t seem possible at the moment, Horton is optimistic they still have a spot at Run for the Lilies.
“We have a dirty (Take Charge Briana) person who we’re trying to sort things out for her, she’s really nice,” Horton said. “Hopefully she can ride the Oaks Trail. It’s just some sort of group deal. I know she’s a good horse… she’s a thoroughbred and we’re happy. for her sake.”
Responsible Briana broke her maiden last summer at Racecourse Saratoga and went on to finish tenth in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1), fourth in the Myrtlewood Stakes and third in the End of the Year Bets for 2022. She finished fourth in the Martha Washington Stakes.
Take Charge Briana Breaks Her Girlhood in 2022 at Saratoga Race Course
Although from the outside, business seems to be going as usual, there will forever be a never-before-seen race for Horton.
“Things are going pretty well, it’s just a big gap. When you’re with someone every day, (my dad) and I have worked together for years and I can always count on him. “, Horton said. “When I’m out working around here where we live, I always look over my shoulder because I think I see him coming.
“I sensed his presence. Everything we do in horse racing is something he told me and I will always come back to that…Hope that we can stay in. stay with it for a while.”
