Fearless Wins Harlan’s Holiday; Pegasus World Cup Next?

Magic recaps Fearless dominating his rivals as the heavy favorite in Saturday’s Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Magic also discusses the impact Fearless could have on the Pegasus World Cup (G1) here on January 29 and other horses he likes exiting this race.

The press release, courtesy of Gulfstream Park:

Repole Stable’s Fearless took complete advantage of a dream set-up in Saturday’s $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday to register a dominant and popular victory at Gulfstream Park.

The Todd Pletcher-trained 3-5 favorite prevailed by four lengths to win his fourth race in five starts at Gulfstream while returning to the form that produced a victory in last season’s Gulfstream Park Mile (G2).

The Harlan’s Holiday, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up, co-headlined Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup preview with the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up, on a program that offered five stakes, four graded.

Fearless was making his second start off a six-month layoff while bouncing back from his first loss at Gulfstream – a close-up second-place finish in the Nov. 21 Miami Gardens overnight handicap.

The 5-year-old son of Ghostzapper broke cleanly to track the pace set by Mighty Heart and pressed by Blue Steel along the backstretch. Following a half-mile in 47.76 seconds, Saez asked Fearless for run, and the Kentucky-bred gelding responded by making a three-wide sweep to pull alongside Mighty Heart at the top of the stretch and continue on to win comfortably under Luis Saez.

“It was perfect. The plan came together perfect. I had a lot of horse at the three-eighths [pole]. That’s why I went early, because he’s a big horse and takes a little time to get going. He did it perfect,” Saez said. “I want to give thanks to the trainer and owner. Todd’s given me a lot of opportunities and I’m very grateful.”

Fearless ran 1 1/16-miles in 1:42.19. South Bend rallied in the stretch to finish second, 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Mighty Heart.

Pletcher was not present at Gulfstream Saturday due to family obligations to reveal if Fearless’ powerful performance made him a candidate for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 29.

“That’s all up to Todd,” said assistant trainer Anthony Sciametta. “The horse is moving forward. He’s run two good races and come back good from his vacation. That’s all we can ask for.”