Zayat Stables’ THORN SONG (Unbridled’s Song), a wire-to-wire winner of the
May 25 Shoemaker Mile S. (G1) in his last outing, will defend his title in
Saturday’s $150,000
Firecracker H. (G2) at Churchill Downs. A four-time winner over the Matt Win
Turf Course, the Dale Romans-trained gray horse recorded a one-length,
front-running decision in the 2008 edition of the one-mile affair. Mike Smith,
who picked up the mount for the Shoemaker Mile, will travel to Kentucky to guide
the six-year-old, who will tote the 123-pound highweight.
Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) hero MR. SIDNEY (Storm Cat) and multiple Grade 2
victor TIZDEJAVU (Tiznow) will each carry 120 pounds. The Bill Mott-trained Mr.
Sidney notched his first stakes victory when capturing the Maker’s Mark Mile at
Keeneland two starts back, and he’ll return to the turf following a failed
attempt on the main track in the Metropolitan H. (G1) last out. Regular rider
Kent Desormeaux retains the mount. Tizdejavu strung together three straight
graded victories last year, winning the Jefferson Cup (G2) and American Turf
(G3) at Churchill, and the Gregory Fox trainee came back from a lengthy layoff
to win an allowance/optional claiming event over the course last time out. The
four-year-old will get a new pilot in Jon Court.
SEASPEAK (Mizzen Mast) exits a sharp score in the Dallas Turf Cup H. (G3) at
Lone Star Park, and the Ralph Nicks runner has won three of his last four
outings, with a narrow second in the Commonwealth Turf S. (G3) being the only
setback. Robby Albarado will be up. The Roger Attfield-conditioned PASSAGER (Fr)
(Anabaa) will add blinkers in an attempt to garner his first U.S. stakes
victory. A solid third in the Appleton S. (G3) three starts back, the French
Group 3 winner finished second by a half-length in the Maker’s Mark Mile.