Sandman returns to Oaklawn and runs into Magnitude in the Razorback

The winner of the Arkansas Derby returns to the scene of his greatest conquest; Magnitude, hero of the Clark, looms as the great rival

Sandman returns to the track of his best victory / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA

HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas (Special for Turf Diario).- The calendar is starting to heat up at Oaklawn Park, and next Saturday's Razorback Handicap (G3) appears as a pivotal race for several high-profile 4-year-olds. In this context, Sandman will return to the racetrack where he built the most important victory of his campaign: the 2025 Arkansas Derby (G1).

Owned by D J Stables and St Elias Stables, the son of Tapit, trained by Mark Casse, will face his first graded performance of the season in this demanding 1,700-meter test, which features a purse of $500,000.

Since his third-place finish in last year's Preakness Stakes (G1), Sandman has not managed to return to the podium. However, Oaklawn seems to be his natural territory: he was second in the Southwest (G3), third in the Rebel (G2), and then exploded in the Arkansas Derby, winning by 2 1/2 lengths.

After reappearing with a fifth-place finish in an allowance on February 7, the grey will now arrive with Cristian Torresback in the irons, starting from the outside gate and carrying 120 pounds. Casse, who leads the meeting's statistics with more than $2 million in prize money and 18 victories, is confident that the horse will regain his best form.

But the challenge will be substantial. In the gate will be Magnitude, defending the colors of Winchell Thoroughbredsand a pupil of Steve Asmussen, currently second to Casse in the local statistics. The son of Not This Time reappears after winning the Clark Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs and boasts a remarkably consistent campaign: 5 wins and nearly $1.3 million in prize money.

Magnitude, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, will carry the top weight of 123 pounds and will break from post 5. In 2025, he shone brightly in the Risen Star (G2) and the Iowa Derby (L), in addition to adding placings in the Travers (G1) and the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) before his consecration in the Clark.

Steven Asmussen will also present Tap Into This, another son of Tapit, while the ascending Nu What’s New(Munnings), winner of his last 2 outings by wide margins and with impressive speed figures, will attempt to translate his allowance explosion to the graded level.

Woodcourt (Ransom the Moon), Echo Again (Gun Runner), and Gould's Gold (Goldencents) complete the list of entrants.

Sandman seeks to reunite with his best version. Magnitude wants to confirm that his class is top-tier. And Oaklawn, true to its style, will be the judge of a contest that promises intensity from the first turn to the wire.