fearless | Horse Racing Free Tips

Silver State Rolls To Fifth Consecutive Win In $1-Million Oaklawn Handicap

With six horses spread across the track at the eighth pole and a million dollars up for grabs, Saturday's Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap looked to be almost anyone's race. But Silver State was going the best of all and drew off for a half-length victory under Ricardo Santana Jr., winning for the fifth consecutive time for trainer Steve Asmussen but making it a graded stakes first for the Hard Spun 4-year-old owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing.

Sent away at 9-2 odds, Silver State covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.56 on a track upgraded to fast after being listed as good much of the day. He paid $11.40 for the win, his sixth in 10 career starts.

Todd Pletcher-trained Fearless, coming off a G2 victory in the Gulfstream Park Mile, finished second, with 9-5 favorite Express Train, who shipped in from Southern California for trainer John Shirreffs, a length back in third in the field of eight older horses. Pacesetter Warrior's Charge was fourth.

“We've always loved his talent level,” Asmussen said of Silver State. “The five-race win streak and putting it all together against such a talented field today, significant race, extremely pleased with him. The horse has been training really well. He's figured out winning. I think what we saw in the two races here previously, he chose to win. They were very competitive. Watching the races, just like today, I think that's made all the difference in him.”

Silver State was coming off a neck win in the $500,000 Essex Handicap and prior to that won the Fifth Season Stakes by a nose – both this year at Oaklawn. He began his streak with a seven-length allowance win last October at Keeneland, then added a November allowance/optional claiming race at Churchill Downs.

In the Oaklawn Handicap, Silver State carried 118 pounds, four fewer than highweighted Express Train.

Breaking from the rail, Silver State saved ground most of the trip racing in mid-pack as Warrior's Charge set fractions of :22.73, :47.06 and 1:11.67.

Santana tipped Silver State five wide into the stretch, and after passing the mile marker in 1:37.23, there were six runners within about a length of each other. Silver State emerged from the pack and went on to victory.

The post Silver State Rolls To Fifth Consecutive Win In $1-Million Oaklawn Handicap appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Solid Field of Eight Set for Oaklawn Handicap

A deep field of eight–headed by 5-2 morning-line favorite and Southern Californian invader Express Train (Union Rags)–will line up for Saturday's $1-million GII Oaklawn H.

The well-built bay, second in last term's GI Runhappy Malibu S., followed a breakthrough victory with a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure in the GII San Pasqual S. Jan. 30 with a second-place finish after leading in the stretch in the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 6. John Shirreffs trains the C R K Stables colorbearer.

The rail-drawn Silver State (Hard Spun), second and third in last term's GIII Lecomte S. and GII Risen Star S., enters riding a four-race winning streak for Steve Asmussen. He posted back-to-back, hard-fought local wins in the Fifth Season S. Jan. 23 and Essex H. Mar. 13, respectively.

Owendale (Into Mischief), a close second as the 4-5 favorite in the GII New Orleans Classic S. last time Mar. 20, looks to snap a seven-race losing streak while Fearless (Ghostzapper) ships in for Todd Pletcher following a win in the GII WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile S. Feb. 27.

The post Solid Field of Eight Set for Oaklawn Handicap appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Fearless Records First Stakes Triumph In Gulfstream Park Mile

WinStar Farm LLC and CHC Inc.'s Fearless made a triumphant return to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., on Saturday to collect his first stakes success in the $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile (G2).

The Gulfstream Park Mile, a one-turn mile event for older horses, was one of nine stakes worth more than $1.4 million on a 14-race program headlined by the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2), a key prep for the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill n' Dale Farm at Xalapa March 27.

Fearless ($7.60), who launched his career with back-to-back victories during the 2019-2020 Championship Meet, was making his first start since finishing sixth in the Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs June 20.

“Our biggest concern was that in his last couple starts he dropped back. We were hoping that being fresh that he'd put himself into the race a little bit,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He broke well and got in a good stalking position. He was forward from there and kicked on and ran like we hoped he would.”The 5-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper rated well for Irad Ortiz Jr. several lengths behind pacesetter Wind of Change, who opened up several lengths on the field while speeding the first quarter of a mile in 23.60 seconds. Wind of Change continued to show the way on the far turn and completed the first half-mile in 46.50 before shortening stride as Fearless and his other rivals started to close in. Fearless went to the lead at the top of the stretch and continued on gamely to hold off Avant Garde by three-quarters of a length.

“I got a perfect trip. He broke and put me into the race. After that, I didn't want to hurry him. I waited and when I asked him he responded,” Ortiz said.

Avant Garde, who was ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, finished two lengths ahead of 9-10 favorite Performer and jockey Jose Ortiz.

After winning his first two races at Gulfstream, Fearless hit the road to finish sixth in the New Orleans (G2) at Fair Grounds, before finishing second in an Oaklawn Park optional claiming allowance and a victory in an optional claiming allowance at Churchill Downs. He was never a factor while racing very wide in the Foster.

“Todd does what Todd does, and they come out running. He ran a super race,” said WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden. “We were pretty confident, seeing him breeze the last few times.”

The post Fearless Records First Stakes Triumph In Gulfstream Park Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post