Pletcher sending three for closing-day stakes

Trainer Todd Pletcher has a trio of horses targeting stakes on Saturday’s closing-day card at Oaklawn Park, and all were due to arrive in Arkansas on Tuesday.

Pletcher said Madefromlucky is being pointed for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, while Golden Lad and Race Day are on deck for the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap. He said the three horses were to travel to town aboard a flight from Florida.

Madefromlucky was second in last month’s Rebel at Oaklawn. Pletcher said John Velazquez has the mount on the horse. Velazquez will also ride Race Day, whom he guided to victory in last month’s Grade 3, $150,000 Razorback Handicap on the same card as the Rebel.

Golden Lad, a Grade 3 winner who won the $100,000 Essex Handicap in February at Oaklawn, is to be ridden by Mike Smith, said Pletcher. Golden Lad will start as the 117-pound co-highweight along with Tapiture.