Churchill Downs Turf Sprint

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A large field of 11 is set for Friday’s $100,000 Churchill Downs Turf Sprint
(G3) and we’ll go with defending champion CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE (War Chant), who
tuned up for the five-furlong contest with a close fourth in the Shakertown S.
(G3) at Keeneland.

Three-for-three over the course, the six-year-old gelding has registered
outstanding triple-digit BRIS Speed and E2 Pace ratings for trainer Bret Calhoun
and followed the same pattern last year when recording a close third in the
Shakertown. Jockey Jamie Theriot will look to sit just off the pace before
striking in the stretch.

MORALIST (Talk is Money) is speed from the rail and could last a long way
with jockey Brandon Meier. A former $5,000 claimer, the five-year-old gelding
has developed into a quality sprinter for conditioner Tammy Domenosky recently,
running extremely well in his last two attempts on the turf, including a good
third in the Shakertown last time. This field isn’t loaded with speed and front
runners appear to be performing well over Churchill’s turf, so we’ll take a stab
at some value (15-1 morning line) with him on the bottom of the exacta.

SILVER TIMBER (Prime Timber) looks extremely dangerous for Chad Brown. A
former claimer, the seven-year-old gelding captured the Jaipur S. (G3) and Woodford
S. (G3) last fall before finishing a bang-up sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf
Sprint. He came out running off the layoff last time, garnering the Shakertown
with a stout late rally, and shows a nice four-furlong breeze in preparation for
this start. Julien Leparoux guides the quality stalker.

The filly STARFISH BAY (Elusive Quality) figures to be mixing it up from the
start for Todd Pletcher and could stick around for a minor award. With BRIS
Speed ratings of 102 and 101 in her last four starts, the four-year-old miss
fits at this level.

FORMIDABLE (Sky Mesa) took to the turf last time for Allen Jerkens,
registering a sharp one-length score over allowance rivals, and the
five-year-old horse has plenty of graded experience in the past. He’ll
show speed under Jose Lezcano and we’ll include him in some exotics. BARGE
(Forest Camp) loses John Velazquez to Starfish Bay but will have Garrett Gomez
up for his turf and stakes bow. We can’t dismiss the improving Pletcher trainee
from top-three consideration.

PERFECT OFFICER (Officer) showed some promise last summer for conditioner
George Weaver, but we can’t recommend his chances based upon his last few turf
starts. The speedy CENTRAL CITY (City Place) may be facing too much of a class
hike in his stakes debut.

HEAVENLY CHORUS (Unbridled’s Song), MITIGATION (Cherokee Run) and
LIT’SGOODLOOKNGRAY (Lit de Justice) could all find themselves overmatched at
this level.