Street Sense's First Mission Powers Clear In Oaklawn Handicap

Despite a frustrating conclusion to 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense)'s 4-year-old season last year, trainer Brad Cox never lost any confidence in the Godolphin homebred.

“Look, we've always thought he was a Grade I talent,” Cox said in these pages earlier this week.

You can certainly see why now.

Pounded late into 7-5 favoritism, First Mission sat the trip of the race beneath Flavien Prat in Saturday's $1.25-million GII Oaklawn Handicap and powered clear to a two-length victory over the in-form Banishing (Ghostzapper). The final time of 1:49.09 was the fastest clocking for 1 1/8 miles of the current Oaklawn stand that began Dec. 6.

“I feel like maybe this could be his year,” Godolphin's Michael Banahan said en route to the winner's circle on FanDuel TV.

“We were looking forward to keeping him in training and seeing if we could win a Grade I down the road with him. It was his best race that he's run up to this point.”

Away in good order from post three, First Mission was positioned in an inside fourth as Go West Go (Twirling Candy) and the race's defending winner Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) traded blows through fast fractions of :22.83 and :46.67.

Go West Go was the first to blink and Banishing made his move to press Skippylongstocking heading into the turn. Still racing in fourth and patiently awaiting racing room while locked and loaded, Prat threaded the needle beautifully between Banishing and Skippylongstocking down the lane and First Mission ran to daylight from there to win with authority.

First Mission was on the cusp last spring, but never took the next step following powerful wins in the GIII Essex H. at Oaklawn Mar. 23 and GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs May 3. The latter was good for a career-high 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

Fourth as the 4-5 favorite in the GI Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs June 29, First Mission was given plenty of time to regroup following a well-beaten seventh in the GI Whitney S. over a muddy track at Saratoga Aug. 3. He returned from the bench with a fantastic third going against the track while launching his 5-year-old season in the GIII Razorback H. Feb. 23.

Pedigree Notes:

First Mission is one of 43 graded winners for his GI Kentucky Derby-winning sire Street Sense. First Mission was produced by the winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Elude, a daughter of Argentinian champion 3-year-old filly and MG1SW Forty Marchanta (Arg) (Roar). Elude is also responsible for the 2-year-old colt Protonic Mission (Protonico).

Saturday, Oaklawn Park
OAKLAWN H.-GII, $1,250,000, Oaklawn, 4-19, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:49.09, ft.
1–FIRST MISSION, 121, h, 5, by Street Sense
                1st Dam: Elude, by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Forty Marchanta (Arg), by Roar
                3rd Dam: Marcha Toss (Arg), by Egg Toss
'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Flavien Prat. $693,750. Lifetime Record: 12-6-2-1, $2,060,170. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Banishing, 122, g, 5, Ghostzapper–Dowager, by A.P. Indy. ($80,000 4yo '24 FTKHRA). O-Lawrence P. Roman and David Jacobson; B-Godolphin (KY); T-David Jacobson. $231,250.
3–Skippylongstocking, 123, h, 6, Exaggerator–Twinkling, by War Chant. ($15,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $37,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Daniel Alonso; B-Brushy Hill, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $115,625.
Margins: 2, 5 3/4, 1. Odds: 1.40, 9.50, 2.10.
Also Ran: Disarm, Alexander Helios, Red Route One, Tarantino, Go West Go.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

FIRST MISSION ($4.80) scored with a perfect trip under Flavien Prat in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at @OaklawnRacing. @bradcoxracing trains the son of Street Sense (@DarleyAmerica) for owners @Godolphin.

🍀 Last: https://t.co/fEBb9IA5at pic.twitter.com/DzS8ArFdh6

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 19, 2025