AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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WOODFORD RESERVE TURF CLASSIC S. (G1), 10TH-CD, $500,000, 3YO/UP, 1 1/8MT, 4:46 P.M. EDT, 5-1 |
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| 1 |
WISE RIVER, 7, h, by Belong to MeFuture Guest, by Copelan O-Don L. Benge; B-Murray Smith (Ky) |
| 2 |
GENERAL QUARTERS, 4, c, by Sky MesaEcology, by Unbridled’s Song O-Thomas R. McCarthy; B-Mr. & Mrs. R. David Randal (Ky) |
| 3 |
COURT VISION, 5, h, by GulchWeekend Storm, by Storm Bird O-Ieah Stables and Resolute Group Stable; B-W. S. Farish & Kilroy Thoroughbred Partnership (Ky) |
| 4 |
POP TARRT, 4, c, by E DubaiSunshine Again, by Dixieland Band O-Will Farm LLC; B-Will Farm LLC (Ky) |
| 5 |
AL KHALI, 4, c, by Medaglia D’OroMaya, by Capote O-Brous Stable and Wacht; B-Hamilton Emory A. (Ky) |
| 6 |
BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB), 4, c, by Royal Applause (GB)Subya, by Night Shift O-Mike House; B-Myriad Communications & New England Stud (GB) |
| 7 |
BLUES STREET, 6, G, by Street Cry (Ire)Capote Blues, by Capote O-Anstu Stables Inc.; B-Harriet Finkelstein (Ky) |
| 8 |
LOUP BRETON (IRE), 6, h, by AnabaaLouve, by Irish River (Fr) O-Wildenstein Stable; B-Dayton Investments Ltd. (Ire) |
| 9 |
YATE’S BLACK CAT, 7, h, by Black MinnalousheDazzle, by Slewacide O-Jerry Crawford Adam Wachtel Nils Brous; B-Gallagher James P. (Ky) |
A nine-horse field will line-up in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic
S. (G1) at Churchill Downs on Saturday. COURT VISION (Gulch) is the most accomplished runner in the field
and the most likely winner for conditioner Richard Dutrow. A multiple Grade 1
winner, the dark bay was a good second in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) last out
and should be primed while running at what we think could be his most effective
distance. Robby Albarado will guide the Kentucky-bred.
BLUES STREET (Street Cry [Ire]) is in peak condition for trainer Todd
Pletcher and enters this race on a four-race winning streak. The Grade 2 star
was offered for a claiming tag as recently as the summer, but after removing
blinkers four starts ago, the dark bay hasn’t really been tested while defeating
some fine runners. Javier Castellano will pilot the top win threat.
The ever-consistent BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) has been a
high-quality player ever since coming to the United States and will almost surely break
through at this level at some point in his career for Jeff Mullins. The gelded
four-year-old is adept at handling distances from one mile to 10 furlongs, and
our only concern about him in here is the expected lack of early pace. Ramon
Dominguez will ride the bay for the first time.
LOUP BRETON (Ire) (Anabaa) took the San Marcos S. (G2) two races prior and is
among the top turf performers on the West Coast for trainer Julio Canani. The
classy bay will remove his blinkers for this race, and it’s a positive that the
six-year-old was supplemented to this one, so we must include the accomplished
horse with Garrett Gomez.
YATE’S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe) should be forwardly placed from the
outside under Julien Leparoux and could get first run on the closers for Dale
Romans. The dark bay likes this oval with five wins in 12 tries upon it, and
while he’s never proven to be of Grade 1 quality, he could be the one to catch
at the top of the lane. AL KHALI (Medaglia d’Oro), hero of the Saranac S. (G3) in the fall, hasn’t
raced since a fourth-place finish in the Hollywood Derby (G1) for conditioner
Bill Mott. The talented bay has worked well in advance of this and is a very
steady turf performer, but we’re not confident that he can win a race of this
magnitude off the bench. Kent Desormeaux will be on the ridgling.
WISE RIVER (Belong to Me) hasn’t won since taking an allowance/optional
claiming event on this
oval in April of 2009 for trainer Clark Hanna, but if the seven-year-old gets a
firm turf course, he could be in for an exotics finish under Calvin Borel. The
dark bay boasts a solid 10-2-3-2 mark on this strip and has been plagued with
moisture-laden turf ovals in most of his latest starts while he’s clearly better
on firm going. GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa) picked a tough spot to try the turf for the first
time since 2008, but the in-form Thomas McCarthy trainee could get a share if he
takes his dirt form onto the grass course. The gray four-year-old has earned
triple-digit BRIS Speed numbers in each of his 2010 starts and has good tactical
speed, so we’ll put him in our vertical plays under Rafael Bejarano. POP TARRT (E Dubai) has run his best two races on this turf course for Joe
Deegan, but the four-year-old is still a cut below the best on this day.