'We're going to take a shot': Fearless steps up in Foster
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has learned to expect the unexpected from Fearless, hopes the 4-year-old Ghostzapper gelding can deliver a pleasant surprise in the Grade 2, $500,000 Stephen Foster on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Pletcher initially intended to enter Fearless in the Suburban Handicap (G2) on July 4 at Belmont Park, but Fearless’ eye-catching last-to-first victory in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming race on May 30 at Churchill Downs gave him reason to pause.
“The horse is doing well. He’s been training over the surface as if he likes it,” Pletcher said. “We just figured we should take what is in front of us instead of waiting another week and shipping to another track.”
Fearless, a $725,000 purchase by China Horse Club and WinStar Farm at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, will be taking his second stab at stakes company. He was advanced one position because of a disqualification to finish fifth to victorious By My Standards in the March 21 New Orleans Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds.
By My Standards looms as a contender in an eight-horse Stephen Foster field headed by Tom’s d’Etat, the only Grade 1 winner in the bunch. Tom’s d’Etat accomplished that in the Clark last autumn at Churchill. He suggested he may be sitting on a big season when he captured his only start this year in the April 11 Oaklawn Mile at Oaklawn Park.
“It’s a difficult race, and he needs to continue to step up,” Pletcher said of Fearless. “But if he gets a favorable pace scenario, we feel he can get a piece of it. We would be delighted with that. So we’re going to take a shot.”
The speed Fearless displayed in zipping wire to wire in a winning debut on Dec. 22 at six furlongs at Gulfstream Park has been absent with an increase in distance. John Velazquez did everything possible to put him into the race early in his last start – to no avail. His mount slipped back to last before seemingly realizing the race was on. He picked off foes with an impressive rally.
A similar issue could be ruinous with Fearless and Velazquez breaking from the rail in the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster.
“When we run two turns, he’s way off the pace early on. That’s been frustrating,” Pletcher noted. “In a couple of races, we felt if he had gotten into a little better position early on, he would have had a better outcome.”
Through it all, Fearless owns three victories and a runner-up finish in five starts with earnings of $118,520. He has worked twice beneath the twin spires since his last start. He was timed in 50.40 for four furlongs on June 12 before picking it up and covering the same distance in 49 seconds flat seven days later.
Expect Velazquez to again ride aggressively the instant the starting gate snaps open. He will have to count on another runner to engage Pirate’s Punch, who appears to be the lone speed in the field and will have clever Mike Smith aboard.
“He’s a big horse. It takes him a while to get his legs under him,” Pletcher said of Fearless. “We’re going to look for a good hot pace up front and try to help him into the race and put him in the best position we can without taking him out of his style.”