It was a return to the winner’s circle for TAPIT’s Grade 1 winning Proxy on Saturday when the Godolphin homebred won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).
Proxy was happy to settle a few lengths behind the leaders in the 1 1/8 mile affair when racing a few lengths off the rail. Joel Rosario kept Proxy to the outside of TAPIT son Charge It down the backstretch and when that one was ready to move, Rosario asked his mount to do the same.
It took Proxy much of the stretch to click into full gear but once he did, he charged toward the leaders in a late rush. A photo was needed to make sure he got up in time but in the end he was the winner by a head for his second career graded stakes victory.
HE GOT THERE!
#4 PROXY (@gainesway Tapit) wins the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for @godolphin under @JRosarioJockey. Check out the @JockeyCam and drone cam in this thriller! #2 Last Samurai second, #3 Stilleto Boy third; no change after an inquiry. pic.twitter.com/O43EUgilZJ
— TVG (@TVG) April 22, 2023
The winner of last year’s Clark Stakes (G1), the Michael Stidham trainee is the earner of $1,775,970 with five victories and eight top three finishes in 16 starts including nine stakes top threes.
Out of dual Grade 1 winner Panty Raid, Proxy is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Micheline and two other winners from the five to race out of their dam. Panty Raid is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and Kentucky Oaks (G1) second St John’s River from the family of Grade 1 winner Shadow Cast and Canadian champion Legarto.
Proxy is the fifth stakes winner for TAPIT in 2023, putting him 10th among all Northern Hemisphere sires with the group led by Grade 1 winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful Tapit Trice.