Magnitude’s Return Rocks the Razorback in Statement Win
By AJ Johnson
After a winter away from the starting gate, Magnitude delivered exactly what insiders have hoped for: a volcanic return to form that reminded everyone why he remains one of American racing’s most compelling older horses.
The 4-year-old son of Not This Time was installed the 4-5 favorite in Saturday’s Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicapat Oaklawn Park, and under José Ortiz he did not disappoint. In what was a compact field of six older runners, Magnitude took the pace in stride, stalked the early fractions comfortably, and then built a decisive advantage turning for home. By the finish line, he had crossed the wire 3 3/4 lengths clear of Nu What’s New, stopping the timer in 1:42.10 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast main track.
Trainer Steve Asmussen, one of the most experienced handlers in the sport and a member of racing’s Hall of Fame, signaled afterward that this was arguably the best performance of Magnitude’s career. That is no small praise from a conditioner whose resume includes champions across multiple decades.
This win marks Magnitude’s 4-year-old debut, coming off a winter campaign that originally included plans for the $20 million Saudi Cup before a minor illness scratched him from that assignment.
What made the performance especially noteworthy was the evolution of Magnitude’s racing style. Early in his career he was often tagged as a speed-type who needed the lead. In this race, though, Ortiz sat conservatively early, allowed a solid pace to develop, and then asked Magnitude to put his stride together at precisely the right moment — and he responded with authority.
Before today, Magnitude’s 2025 season featured a mix of highs and frustrations. He reeled off some of his most impressive victories in the Risen Star (G2) and Iowa Derby, and capped his sophomore campaign with a tough, gritty win in the Clark Stakes (G2) against older rivals. But inconsistency — including a misstep in the Lecomte (G3) and a tough run in the Travers (G1) — left questions about his place among the elite.
Today’s result, however, erased much of that uncertainty. With six wins in 12 lifetime starts and more than $1.58 million in earnings, Magnitude reminded the sport that his best truly can still be ahead of him — particularly now that he shows maturity and tactical versatility.
And now comes the next chapter: this Razorback Victory punches Magnitude’s ticket to the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse. That race — where he is expected to face international stars including Forever Young — will be the first real global test of his career, and one that could elevate him into bona-fide world-class status.
n a sport that thrives on redemption arcs, today’s Magnitude is a horse coming back from adversity, refining his craft, and announcing himself as a true contender on the biggest stages. For Oaklawn fans and racing fans nationwide, this was the kind of performance you bookmark — the return of a horse with both talent and unfinished business.
