CLOUDY’S KNIGHT (Lord Avie), who overcame a year-long layoff to take the
Kentucky Cup Turf (G3) last month, will seek to make it two in a row when he
heads a large cast to post in Thursday’s $125,000
Sycamore
S. (G3) at Keeneland. The 1 1/2-mile turf feature attracted 15 entrants,
only 12 of which will be allowed to start.
Named Canada’s champion turf horse following a score in the 2007 Canadian
International (Can-G1), Cloudy’s Knight was uncompetitive in four starts last
season, his last under the tutelage of Chicago-based conditioner Frank Kirby.
Eventually transferred to Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, the now
nine-year-old gelding showed signs of his old self when returning from a lengthy
spell at Kentucky Downs September 19. Conceding 10 lengths early, Cloudy’s
Knight gradually made up ground and opened up a commanding lead in the stretch
to win by 2 1/2 lengths under Rosemary Homeister Jr., who is back in the saddle
for the Sycamore.
This will mark Cloudy Knight’s first start in Lexington in more than two
years. He was a close fifth in the 2007 Elkhorn S. (G3) when last trying the
local turf.
WINCHESTER (Theatrical [Ire]), who earned his signature win in the
Secretariat S. (G1) last year, is another who has begun to regain better form of
late. Far back in three starts following the Secretariat, Winchester was a
much-improved second in the Bowling Green H. (G2) at Belmont Park last time.
This marks his third start for trainer Christophe Clement.
Another aging veteran in the Sycamore is the eight-year-old ALWAYS FIRST (GB)
(Barathea [Ire]), who won the 2008 edition of the Sycamore by three parts of a
length. The Tom Voss charge has managed just one win in seven subsequent
outings, however, and has been unplaced in five of those.
AMERICAIN (Dynaformer), who departed France for America after a score in the
Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (Fr-G2) in May, was crushed in both the Sword Dancer
Invitational (G1) and Bowling Green in his first two U.S. appearances, but might
be due to wake up. GENTLEMAN CHESTER (Chester House) was a solid second to
subsequent Grade 1 winner Just As Well (A.P. Indy) in the Arlington H. (G3), was
not embarrassed when fourth in the Sword Dancer, and might not have handled the
soft going when a distant fifth in the Bowling Green last time.
FREE FIGHTER (Out of Place) and CABERNEIGH (E Dubai), the one-three finishers
in the Starts and Stripes Turf H. (G3) at Arlington on Labor Day, have the
credentials to do well. Horses for the course that might outrun their odds are
the speedy and ultra-consistent TIMELESS FASHION (Sky Classic) and TIGER WOODMAN
(Woodman), who has taken allowances in his last two trips over the Keeneland
turf for the hot Rusty Arnold barn.