Alexander Helios ‘ journey is not necessarily an unusual one; the 5-year-old son of Cairo Prince began his career in California before moving to the stable of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. After another change in trainer, the horse has been reunited with Joseph since May 2024.
While Alexander Helios had some previous success—hitting the board in his last 11 starts—the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 23 represents a new high-water mark.
In his 15th career outing, Alexander Helios put forth his best effort yet when he got the head bob at the wire to hold off Banishing and earn his first graded stakes victory.
Alexander Helios has won both of his starts this year and has a second to his resume since heading back to Joseph following a brief stint with trainer Dan Ward.
“He’s a very hard-trying horse. He never gives up and he showed that tenacity today. He fought all the way to the wire and was able to get the job done,” jockey Tyler Gaffalione said.
Stalking the lead from the start, Alexander Helios and Gaffalione refused to let Banishing get out of reach throughout the 1 1/16-mile race. Banishing opened with fractions of :23.81 and :47.60 but, after three-quarters of a mile, Alexander Helios had nearly matched Banishing’s time of 1:11.42. The mile was timed at 1:35.77.
Making his move around the far turn to pull nearly even with the leader, Alexander Helios was joined by 2-1 favorite First Mission , albeit briefly. The trio put nearly six lengths between them and the rest of the field. With Banishing along the rail and Alexander Helios shadowing him from the outside, First Mission sought to find daylight by going three wide. But that effort seemed to take away some steam from the favorite.
Meanwhile, neither Alexander Helios nor Banishing were prepared to relent to the other as they matched each stride approaching the wire. The difference proved to be a perfectly timed bob at the wire to win by a head that improved Alexander Helios’ career mark to 5-3-3 from 15 starts. His career earnings are now $542,170.
“(Joseph) just told me to ride my race,” Gaffalione said. “This horse shows a lot of natural speed; he breaks well and puts himself in the game with the 2 going to the lead, the way they broke, it was just the right spot to be in He was very happy with it.”
First Mission and Florent Geroux rejoined the fray at the sixteenth pole, but couldn’t do better than a gallant third, a neck behind Banishing.
The final time was 1:41.88 and a $2 win ticket paid $18.
Bred in Kentucky, Alexander Helios is a John and Diane Fradkin homebred. Cairo Prince stands for $15,000 at Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky.
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