Golden Lad possible for Oaklawn Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Horses trained by Todd Pletcher have accounted for two of the first three races in Oaklawn Park’s handicap series. Golden Lad invaded from south Florida and took down the $100,000 Essex in February, and Race Day traveled to town last week and won the Grade 3, $250,000 Razorback. There is one more offering for the division at the meet, and Golden Lad could return for the occasion, said Pletcher.

“We have been thinking of the Oaklawn Handicap,” said Pletcher, who trains Golden Lad for E. Paul Robsham Stables. “We’ll continue to point in that direction and assess the field as we get closer.”

The Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap will be run on the final card of the meet April 11. The 1 1/8-mile race will share a program with the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Golden Lad has earned his two highest Beyer Speed Figures at Oaklawn. He popped a 102 in last month’s Essex, which he won by 1 3/4 lengths over Ride On Curlin. Golden Lad also earned the same number a year ago when a 6 3/4-length winner of the Razorback.

Ride On Curlin remains a possibility for the Oaklawn Handicap, trainer Billy Gowan said Tuesday while shipping the horse who has wintered at Oaklawn to his spring home of Churchill Downs. Ride On Curlin, who won an Oaklawn optional claimer Jan. 15, finished sixth in the Razorback, run on a wet track last Saturday.

“He came back good, real good,” Gowan said. “He was bucking and playing the next day out of the race. He didn’t like that track, didn’t want to run over it.”

Gowan said there are a host of next-race options for the horse, between Oaklawn, Keeneland, both sprint and route stakes at Churchill Downs, and the Texas Mile at Lone Star Park.

“The main thing is to let him tell me,” said Gowan, who trains Ride On Curlin for Dan Dougherty.