HOT SPRINGS -- Race Day was more than ready for his Grade II debut.
The 4-year-old Kentucky bred son of Tapit broke alertly from the rail as the 6-5 post-time favorite in the field of nine, took the lead heading into the first turn and dueled with runner-up Carve until the final furlong before earning a 3 3/4-length victory in the 69th running of the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap on the final day of the Oaklawn Park meet.
Race Day, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard, covered the 1 1/8-mile course in 1:47.93, giving trainer Todd Pletcher his second Oaklawn Handicap victory.
"It was a super effort," said Pletcher, who won the 2007 Oaklawn Handicap with Lawyer Ron. "We are very pleased with the trip."
Race Day paid $4.40, $3.60 and $2.80. Carve, ridden by Jesus Castanon, paid $7.40 and $4.80 and Tapiture paid $3.20 to show.
Carve, who finished fourth behind Race Day in the Grade III Razorback Handicap on March 14, pressed Race Day through the backstretch Saturday, but the 5-year-old trained by Brad Cox could not match the winner in the drive.
Velazquez said he had no choice but to keep Race Day in the lead with Carve determined to stay with him.
"I tried to save enough horse for the run home," Velazquez said. "He did everything so easy coming to the quarter pole. When I asked him right at the eighth pole, he responded."
Race Day set fractions of 23.18, 46.71, 1:10.51 and 1:35.51.
Carve, who ran third in the Oaklawn Handicap in 2014, was forced to run just to the outside of Race Day. He managed to stick a head in front when the top two finishers hit the top of the stretch, but Carve's lead didn't last long.
"When they got to the three-eighths pole, everyone else was struggling behind them pretty hard, so I thought it was going to come down to the two of us," Cox said. "Turning for home I thought we had a pretty good shot at going by, but maybe losing ground around both turns had a little to do with it.
"But it was a big effort, and I'm very happy with him."
Race Day, who is owned by Connecticut commodities trader Matthew Schera, improved his career earnings to $610,450. The colt has won five of his past six races and is 5 for 8 for his career. He has won 3 of 4 career starts under Pletcher.
Sports on 04/12/2015