Fearless Looks for Redemption in Oaklawn Handicap

Although he’s made his last five starts under the heat of the Florida sun at Gulfstream Park, Repole Stable’s Fearless takes his show on the road following a six-length cakewalk in the April 2 Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) to take on a salty group of Hot Springs locals in the April 23 $1,000,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

Fearless ran a gallant second in last year’s Oaklawn Handicap to eventual Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) hero Silver State  . This year, the 6-year-old son of Ghostzapper   brings the edge of winter seasoning into the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn, as he’s raced five times since November, never finishing worse than second and capturing two graded stakes in the Ghostzapper and Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (G3).

Pletcher is seeking his third Oaklawn victory after winning in 2007 with future Eclipse Award winner Lawyer Ron and 2015 with Race Day.

The local contingent includes millionaire multiple graded stakes winner Plainsman   for trainer Brad Cox and owner John Ed Anthony (Shortleaf Stable). The Oaklawn Handicap could be the final career Oaklawn Park start for Plainsman, who is scheduled to begin a stallion career in 2023 in Kentucky.

Plainsman, a 7-year-old son of Flatter  , has overcome several physical ailments throughout his 29-race career, specifically, feet, to bankroll more than $1.3 million in earnings. His recent résumé includes a neck victory over Oaklawn Handicap rival Thomas Shelby  in the Feb. 12 Razorback Handicap (G3) followed by a runner-up effort to Rated R Superstar , who is also returning in the Oaklawn Saturday, in the March 19 Essex Handicap (G3).

"He's a tough horse," said Cox. "He's a very tough horse. But he's also been a very high-maintenance horse and took a very long time, obviously, to get him back to graded-stakes level. I think people forget this horse won the Discovery Stakes (G3) at 3, which is now three-plus years ago. For him to return to graded-stakes company last year and this year just tells you how good of a horse he really is and his quality and class and determination. He's a good horse, he really is. Classy horse."

A 9-year-old gelding, Danny Caldwell's Rated R Superstar is in the best form of his career after capturing the Fifth Season Stakes over this course Jan. 15 and rolling to a 2 1/4-length victory in the Essex in his last start. Ricardo Santana Jr., an eight-time Oaklawn riding champion, inherits the mount Saturday because of an injury to David Cabrera.

"I think there's going to be plenty of pace in the race and he needs that," said trainer Federico Villafranco. "I know he's been closing really nice at a mile and a sixteenth. A mile and an eighth is completely different."

An intriguing player in the Oaklawn is Calvin Nguyen's Idol . The 5-year-old son of Curlin  , a full brother to leading Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender Nest , scored the biggest tally of his career last March when rallying late to nail California sensation Express Train  at the wire in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1). After that effort, however, he didn't make it back to the races until the Oct. 2 Awesome Again Stakes (G1), where he finished a well-beaten sixth.

Unraced since the Awesome Again, the Richard Baltas pupil will look to shake off the rust of a six-month layoff in the Oaklawn. Idol will be making his first start outside of California since capturing an allowance contest at Churchill Downs in November of 2020.

"He seems to run better on tighter tracks, like Churchill," said Baltas. "Even though he won the Santa Anita Handicap, I’m not so sure he likes Santa Anita Park because he doesn’t train well over it and that’s one of the main reasons why I sent him to San Luis Rey Downs. He hasn’t missed a beat for a while. Look, it’s a lot to chew off—off a layoff—but I don’t think this race is like extremely tough, not for a million bucks."

The consistent Thomas Shelby, second in the Razorback, 2021 Arkansas Derby (G1) victor Super Stock , Last Samurai , a gritty runner-up to Lone Rock in the April 3 Temperence Hill Stakes last time out, and Essex third-place finisher Beau Luminarie , complete the Oaklawn field.

Entries: Oaklawn H. (G2)

Oaklawn Park, Saturday, April 23, 2022, Race 11

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $1,000,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:41 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Beau Luminarie (KY)	Florent Geroux	117	Rodolphe Brisset	12/1
2	2Thomas Shelby (KY)	David Cohen	117	Robertino Diodoro	8/1
3	3Last Samurai (KY)	Jon Kenton Court	117	Dallas Stewart	8/1
4	4Idol (KY)	Ramon A. Vazquez	119	Richard Baltas	6/1
5	5Rated R Superstar (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	120	Federico Villafranco	5/1
6	6Plainsman (KY)	Joel Rosario	121	Brad H. Cox	5/2
7	7Super Stock (KY)	Isaac Castillo	118	Steven M. Asmussen	10/1
8	8Fearless (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	121	Todd A. Pletcher	9/5