Distance experiment for Fearless continues in Birdstone Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher’s confidence in Fearless making the stretch from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/2 miles was rewarded with a convincing triumph in the Grade 2 Brooklyn last month at Belmont. Now Pletcher is hopeful Fearless can go even farther with similar success when he sends him out against just four rivals, including defending champion Lone Rock, in the $200,000 Birdstone at 1 3/4 miles Thursday at Saratoga.

Fearless rallied from mid-pack before gradually edging away to his third graded stakes triumph in less than six months with his 2 3 /4-length victory in the Brooklyn. The versatile Fearless had captured a pair of Grade 3 races last winter at Gulfstream Park in similarly easy fashion, the 1 1/16-mile Harlan’s Holiday and 1 1/8-mile Ghostzapper.

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“Obviously he handled a mile and one-half really well, but it’s a big difference stretching out to a mile and three-quarters,” said Pletcher. “I think he can handle it, but once again you never really know until they do it.”

Although chief rival Lone Rock projects to be on an easy lead in the Birdstone, Pletcher said he’s not planning to adjust the running styles of either Fearless or Portos, whom he also entered in the Birdstone.

“I don’t think we need to change anything going a mile and three-quarters,” said Pletcher. “We’ll just let them fall into a rhythm and see how it unfolds.”

Portos finished fourth, five lengths behind Fearless, in the Brooklyn.

“He’s just a grinder,” Pletcher said. “It’s a short field, so he will run, too.”

Lone Rock bobbled at the break and wound up hung wide for much of the Brooklyn. He succumbed gradually down the lane to finish third as the 7-5 favorite. Lone Rock stalked the early running before pulling away to a four-length victory in the 2021 Birdstone, one of seven races he won last season.

Lone Rock shipped from Churchill Downs for the Brooklyn, and trainer Robertino Diodoro thought the travel took something out of the horse.

“But as good as he’s been to us, it’s okay to have an off start and hopefully he’ll redeem himself this time,” said Diodoro. “The way it looks on paper, I think he’ll be on the lead. The plan is to take control early and see what happens. I also like the fact he’s been up here and had three really good works over the track, maybe his three best in a long while.”

Lone Rock will have a new rider for the Birdstone, with Irad Ortiz Jr. replacing Ramon Vazquez, who had guided the horse to eight victories – seven in stakes – in his last 11 starts.

Staying the distance will be no problem for Original Intent, who has won both his starts at 1 3/4 miles, including a $10,000 starter allowance at Oaklawn Park in May.

Shooger Ray Too, a distant second behind Lone Rock in last year’s Birdstone, completes the lineup.