Plainsman

Shortleaf Stable’s Plainsman began his career racing for trainer William Van Meter and broke his maiden in his second career start in early 2018 at Oaklawn Park. By fall 2018, he was in Brad Cox’s barn and finished third at Saratoga in his first start for that trainer. He then won two consecutive allowance races at Belmont Park and Aqueduct, which set him up for his first stakes win in the Grade 3 Discovery Stakes on Nov. 24, which he took by 1 ¾ lengths as the 9-10 favorite.

Plainsman picked up another stakes win on June 4, 2021, when he won the Jim Rasmussen Stakes at Prairie Meadows at 1-5 by a neck. In his next start, he won the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes at Indiana Grand Race Course on July 7 by 1 3/4 lengths. Francisco Arrieta had the winning mount in both races.

The 6-year-old Flatter horse saw his three-race winning streak come to an end in the Governor's Cup at Remington Park on Aug. 20, although he still ran very well, losing by a neck. Cox brought him to Churchill Downs next for a start in the Grade 3 Ack Ack Stakes on Oct. 2, and Plainsman scored an upset win over odds-on favorite Beau Liam in the race, weaving through horses under Joel Rosario to win by a length.

Plainsman made his 2022 debut in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn on Feb. 12. In an exciting battle, he dueled with Thomas Shelby almost the whole way and ultimately got the better of that rival, prevailing by a neck under Joel Rosario.