Positively, a recent maiden winner at Churchill Downs, drilled a bullet three
furlongs beneath the Twin Spires in :35 1/5 Sunday morning for trainer Pat Byrne
in his last major training move prior to Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Bashford
Manor.
The 111th running of the Bashford Manor for two-year-olds will be contested
at six furlongs on the main track at Churchill Downs. It will be the featured
event on the final “Downs After Dark” racing program of the spring meet.
Working prior to the renovation break on the fast main track, Positively
recorded the quickest three-eighths work of the day and galloped out four
furlongs in :48 and five furlongs in 1:01 2/5.
“It was perfect,” Byrne said. “It’ll be a tough race, but he’s on his game.
We’re in good shape and he should like the extra distance.”
A bay son of Distorted Humor, Positively is a half-brother to Malibu Moon,
one of America’s leading sires. The colt was purchased privately by the
Sandfords for $200,000 after he failed to meet his reserve price at the 2011
Keeneland September Yearling sale.
Also working toward the Bashford Manor on Sunday was Donegal Racing’s Roman’s
Avenue, a 4 1/4-length winner of his career debut at Churchill Downs on May 27.
The dark bay son of Street Sense breezed five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 for trainer
Dale Romans, recording the second fastest of 19 moves at the distance on Sunday.
Entries for the Bashford Manor are to be taken Wednesday and Churchill Downs
officials are currently expecting a field of nine.
In addition to Positively and Roman’s Avenue, horses believed by Churchill
Downs officials to be pointing to the Bashford Manor include Circle Unbroken, Go
Jack Go, Good Tickled, I’m Boundtoscore, Praetorian Prefect and Special Jo.
Trainer Wayne Lukas is expected to enter Hightail or Red Wings for owner
Bluegrass Hall LLC.
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