Oaklawn Park: Golden Lad handles stakes company by taking Razorback

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Golden Lad handled a step up in class with aplomb, extending his winning streak with an emphatic victory over a well-matched field in the Grade 3, $200,000 Razorback Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

The Razorback was the first stakes try for Golden Lad ($12), who has now won four straight races, with the prior three wins coming at Gulfstream Park. The 4-year-old Golden Lad, a Medaglia d’Oro colt who runs as a homebred for Robsham Stables, has now won 5 of 8 career starts, only finishing worse than second once.

"He ran a very powerful race," trainer Todd Pletcher, reached by phone in Florida, said. "It was definitely a step up from allowance company into a new level for him, but any time you've won three straight races, you certainly have talent. I felt like he deserved this opportunity, and he proved he did."

Golden Lad, who had warmed up aggressively under Jose Lezcano, sat a comfortable second behind the early splits of Right to Vote. Golden Lad took over at the top of the lane and was never seriously challenged, kicking clear strongly to win by 6 3/4 lengths. He finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.72 over a track officially rated wet-fast.

“When I asked him, he was there for me,” Lezcano said.

Majestic City rallied to nip the consistent Taptowne for second, with Right to Vote another 4 3/4 lengths back in fourth. Grade 3 winner Govenor Charlie, the favorite in the field of seven, was never a serious threat and checked in fifth.

Golden Lad hails from a family that has produced several recent stakes horses for the Robsham program. He is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Broadway’s Alibi, runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks, and to multiple stakes winner R Gypsy Gold. It is the family of Florida Derby winner Dialed In and champion Eliza.

The Razorback is the local prep for the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on April 12.

Earlier on the card, multiple stakes-placed Joy Boy ($29.80), under Channing Hill for trainer Kellyn Gorder, held off Grade 2 winner Bourbon Courage to capture a salty allowance. The field drew several Razorback nominees, including popular millionaire Win Willy and additional graded stakes winners Bourbon Courage and Sabercat.