Fulsome Rallies to Oaklawn Mile Victory
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Photo: Coady Photography
Fulsome (outside) edges Cezanne in the Oaklawn Mile Stakes at Oaklawn Park
Fulsome secured the most lucrative victory of his career when he caught favored Cezanne in the stretch to complete a big rally in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3) April 2 at Oaklawn Park.
The Oaklawn Mile marked a strong seasonal debut for the Juddmonte Farms homebred who won five of eight starts last season, including victories in the Matt Winn (G3) and Smarty Jones (G3) stakes.
One-mile races at Oaklawn feature a short stretch—ending at the 16th pole—but Fulsome's trainer Brad Cox said he thought there would be enough speed in the field to set up the 4-year-old son of leading sire Into Mischief . That assessment by the winner of the past two Eclipse Awards as outstanding trainer proved true.
"I think his wheelhouse is when he gets a pace," Cox said. "A mile, a mile and sixteenth, I think whenever there's some pace to run at, he's going to come running.
"He's a very honest horse. He always tries and that's kind of what I was hoping for coming into this race. We were going to see some pace. I think lots of times the mile races here at Oaklawn, you get some pace. They don't always back up, but they are quick enough. The horses up close were the ones we went by. It didn't completely fall apart, but he was able to get things set up for him and he made a big run and had his momentum down the lane. He ran big."
Early on, Market Analysis prevailed in a three-horse battle for the lead that included Runnin' Ray and even-money favorite Cezanne, who entered off a clear victory in the March 5 San Carlos Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. Market Analysis led through a quarter-mile in :22.73 before opening a 1 1/2-length lead through a half-mile in :45.87 while Fulsome settled last of nine, nearly seven lengths off the pace.
Jockey Flavien Prat asked Cezanne for more entering the far turn and the son of Curlin responded, rallying three wide to seize the lead turning for home. But Fulsome and jockey Florent Geroux answered that challenge, circling wide. Fulsome would wear down a game Cezanne—who even battled back late—to prevail by a neck, completing the mile test for older horses in 1:36.43 to earn $240,000.
In his stakes debut, former claiming horse Runnin' Ray held third.
Kentucky-bred Fulsome is out of the winning Distorted Humor mare Flourish , who also has produced grade 3-placed Mr Darcy and stakes-placed full brother Citrus Burst .
Video: Oaklawn Mile S. (G3)
Acting Out Aces Carousel Test
Earlier in the day, Acting Out secured the first stakes win of her career when the 5-year-old daughter of Blame posted a gate-to-wire score in the $200,000 Carousel Stakes.
Acting Out wins the Carousel Stakes
With Martin Garcia navigating the front-end victory, Acting Out completed the six-furlong test for older fillies and mares in 1:09.26.
Campaigned by Sherman Racing and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Acting Out has opened the season with back-to-back wins at Oaklawn after prevailing by a neck over Joy's Rocket in an allowance-level race March 11. Bred in Kentucky by Vincent Colbert, Acting Out is the first stakes winner for the Speightstown mare Riding Point, who has produced three winners from as many starters.
Multiple graded stakes winner Frank's Rockette , favored at 1-2 in the Carousel, split foes in the stretch to rally from fourth to finish second, a half-length behind the winner.