Veterans line up for Louisville ‘Cap

Brass Hat will be out to defend his title in the Louisville ‘Cap (Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com) The average field age of Saturday’s $100,000 Louisville H. (G3) comes close to six-years old as 11 older horses and geldings have been entered to go 1 1/2 miles over Churchill Downs’ turf. The oldest pair in the group — SILVERFOOT (With Approval) and BRASS HAT (Prized) — are no strangers to this race, as between them they’ve captured four runnings, and each will attempt to utilize his experience to add yet another win to an already impressive resume. Silverfoot is the undeniable king in this field. The 10-year-old recorded back-to-back-to-back wins in the Louisville ‘Cap from 2004-2006, but didn’t have the chance to extend his mark to four straight victories when sitting out the 2007 season. Trainer Dallas Stewart brought the gray gelding back in 2008 to add the Stars and Stripes Turf H. (G3) to his record, but in that year’s Louisville Silverfoot found himself finishing fifth under the line. Raced just three times last season, Silverfoot scored in the Tin Man S. He’s opened his 2010 campaign with sixth- and fifth-place runs in the Fair Grounds H. (G3) and an allowance, respectively, and a return to his favored Churchill, where he’s four-for-six, could be just what the gray needs to return to the winner’s circle. Corey Lanerie will be aboard for the first time in Silverfoot’s 39-race career.

Brass Hat, like Silverfoot, has raced just twice this year but has already
done better than his rival. The nine-year-old bay opened the season with an
eighth in the Pan American S. (G3) before heading to Keeneland to finish second
in the Elkhorn S. (G2), both at 12 furlongs. The Buff Bradley charge hasn’t
competed at less than 1 1/2 miles since running third in last year’s United
Nations S. (G1), which followed a win in this event by a half-length.

Brass Hat has beaten, and been beaten by, others from this field, including a
third behind TELLING (A.P. Indy) in the Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1) last
August. Calvin Borel guided Brass Hat to his Elkhorn second and retains the
mount in this one.

Telling vindicated his 33-1 upset of the Sword Dancer when finishing third in
the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1), placed fourth via
disqualification, but wasn’t able to break into the top three when seventh in
the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) to close out his five-year-old season. The Steve
Hobby trainee received a nice tightener when running fourth in an April
allowance at Keeneland and gets a jockey switch to Shaun Bridgmohan, who was
aboard for Telling’s third in the 2008 River City H. (G3) over Churchill’s turf.

Other contenders in the Louisville ‘Cap include BEARPATH (Dynaformer), who
captured the Pan American before running seventh in the Elkhorn; BLUSHING BEAR
(Rahy), who took a step up to be third in the Elkhorn when stretching out to 12
furlongs; and Tokyo City Cup H. (G3) third EAGLE POISE (Empire Maker), who will
be making just his third start on the turf.