Fearless authoritatively stretched out to 1 1/2 miles in Saturday’s $400,000 Brooklyn (G2) at Belmont Park, drawing away to 2 3/4-length decision. A three-time graded scorer at distances from a mile to 1 1/8 miles beforehand, the six-year-old gelding has now recorded three wins and three seconds from six graded attempts since December for Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher.
“We anticipated he’d handle the distance,” said Pletcher, who notched his fifth Brooklyn win. “Of course, you never know until you try it, but he’s always given us that impression that he would keep grinding it out.”
The early/presser stalked a few lengths off the pace with Luis Saez, as First Constitution sped forward to establish taxing splits in :24.94 and :50.06. Lone Rock, the 7-5 favorite, chased the pacesetter in second after a bobbling start.
Fearless advanced three-wide leaving the far turn to take a short lead while straightening for home, and he rolled to an easy win as the 7-2 second choice, stopping the teletimer in 2:30.45.
Warrant got up by a neck for second over Lone Rock. Portos, First Constitution, Max Player, and Locally Owned came next under the wire.
A Kentucky-bred son of Ghostapper, Fearless pushed his earnings past the million-mark ($1.12 million), and his career line reads 16-7-6-1.
“The horse can go six furlongs to a mile and a half,” Repole said. “He’s a gelding, so as long as he’s healthy he’s going to be around awhile. He’s a fun horse to own. What we do is we look at all our horses, put them in their spots, and whatever spots are leftover, we throw Fearless in there and he fits in competitively.”
The five-time stakes victor was bred by Helen K. Groves, and Fearless has passed through the auction ring three times, most recently selling for $205,000 to Repole Stable at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Horses of Racing Age sale. He’s out of the multiple Grade 1-placed Street Cry mare And Why Not.
Pletcher said the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone S. at Saratoga Race Course on July 28 is a possible option, as well as the Suburban (G2) at 1 1/4 miles on July 9.
“Maybe,” Pletcher said about the Birdstone. “I think he’s versatile enough he can back up to a mile and an eighth or go further. The Suburban could be in play.”
