Hedge Fund-Untrapped rematch possible

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hedge Fund and Untrapped, both of whom earned career-high Beyer Speed Figures for their one-two finish in the $300,000 Essex Handicap last Saturday at Oaklawn, could meet again in the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 14.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Hedge Fund put up a Beyer of 103 for his 2 3/4-length victory in the Essex. He set quick fractions – 46.13 seconds for the first half-mile and 1:10.45 for six furlongs – then turned back a bid at the top of the stretch before going on to cover 1 1/16 miles in a sharp 1:42.06.

“Another really good performance since the layoff,” Pletcher said of Hedge Fund, who has now won both of his starts at 4. “I was concerned about the fractions. He kept finding more. It was a big effort for him.”

Plans are now being discussed with owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plain Partners, and S F Racing. Pletcher said the options on the table are the Oaklawn Handicap and the April 21 Charles Town Classic, which gives Hedge Fund more time off his big effort in the Essex.

“The Oaklawn Handicap makes perfect sense,” Pletcher said. “Charles Town being a week later, that could play a role in it. He’s a hardy horse, carries his condition well, and seemed to like the track, so sometimes you take what you know instead of what you think might happen. We’ll see.”

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Untrapped rallied for second after trouble, and earned a Beyer Figure of 99.

“Beautiful run by him,” Asmussen said Sunday. “What a nice horse he is. I thought he ran solid. The Oaklawn Handicap is a strong possibility for him going back.”

Untrapped, the winner of last year’s Oklahoma Derby over eventual Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hero Battle of Midway, races for Mike Langford.