A full field of 14 three-year-olds will go postward in the $200,000 American
Turf S. (Grade 2), the race immediately preceding the Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) on
the Friday program at Churchill Downs. Favoritism in the 1 1/16-mile event may
fall on Air Support, who’s scored graded wins in the Transylvania S. (Grade 3)
and Pilgrim S. (Grade 3), but enthusiasm might be tempered a bit after the
Stuart Janney III homebred drew post 13.
Great Mills, who won the Grindstone S. at Fair Grounds before conceding the
Transylvania to Air Support by a nose, is well positioned to show his customary
speed from post 2, perhaps followed closely by the Tom Proctor-trained Banned,
whose heroics last fall in a Keeneland allowance resulted in him being sent off
at 5-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 2). Fifth by less than three
lengths that day, Banned led late and was caught in an allowance prep at
Keeneland in his first outing of the year.
Invading from California are Surrey Star and Jakesam, first and third,
respectively, in Santa Anita’s La Puente S. on April 10. The well-seasoned
Surrey Star, who was making his 12th career start in the La Puente, was twice
Group 3-placed in England last year prior to his importation last fall to the
barn of Jim Cassidy. Jakesam, who briefly flirted with the Triple Crown trail
after runner-up efforts in the California Derby and El Camino Real Derby (Grade
3), was making his stakes debut in the La Puente and missed by only two lengths
in what was his turf debut.
Others to watch for in the American Turf include Close Ally and Cozy Kitten,
one-two in an April 13 Keeneland allowance that was rained off the turf; Swagger
Jack, who returns to the grass for the first time since his maiden-breaking win
at Gulfstream in February; and the Tropical Park Derby runner-up Private Prize.
The $100,000 Eight Belles S. (Grade 3), a seven-furlong dash for
three-year-old fillies, shapes up as a duel between the regally-bred Arienza and
Forward Gal S. (Grade 2) winner Pomeroy’s Pistol. Arienza, a daughter of 2002
Horse of the Year Azeri, was under consideration for the Kentucky Oaks until
this past weekend, but trainer Dan Peitz opted for a less ambitious route for
his lightly-raced charge. An impressive winner against overnight foes on March 6
and 27 at Oaklawn Park, Arienza proved no match for likely Oaks favorite Joyful
Victory when second to that rival by seven lengths in the Fantasy S. (Grade 2).
Pomeroys Pistol also briefly flirted with the Oaks after a 9-1 upset win of
the seven-furlong Forward Gal in January, but the more prudent course of
sticking to one-turn races was taken after she finished a distant third to R
Heat Lightning in the one-mile Davona Dale S. (Grade 2) in February.
The Eight Belles has attracted eight others, including recent Santa Anita
maiden winner Home Sweet Again; Holiday Flare, a two-time winner against
Florida-bred company for Todd Pletcher; recent Beaumont S. (Grade 2) runner-up
Honey Chile; and last-out Gowell S. winner Dr. Diamonds Prize.
One of 10 three-year-old fillies will win their first stakes in the $100,000
Edgewood S. at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Expected to draw the most support are
Smart Sting, an undefeated daughter of 2000 champion turf mare Perfect Sting,
and Niji’s Grand Girl, who’s placed in the Fair Grounds Oaks (Grade 2), Delta
Downs Princess S. (Grade 3) and Florida Oaks.