Deep field squares off in Aristides, Might heads Dogwood

Capt. Candyman Can, shown winning the 2009 Matt Winn, enters the Aristides in good health and form (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) The top three finishers from the 2010 edition of the Aristides S. (G3) — RILEY TUCKER (Harlan’s Holiday), ATTA BOY ROY (Tribunal) and CASH REFUND (Petionville) — are back for Saturday’s $100,000 renewal at Churchill Downs, but this year’s running of the six-furlong dash has arguably attracted a much deeper field. Sidelined at this time a year ago due to infirmities, the gelding CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Candy Ride [Arg]) can stake his claim as the Midwest’s top long-term prospect for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) with a good performance in the Aristides, which honors the inaugural winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1). The Ian Wilkes trainee, who won four stakes at three including the King’s Bishop S. (G1), was sidelined from the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Sprint until this year’s Super S. at Tampa Bay Downs on February 5, which he won by a half-length. After posting a neck score in the Sir Shackleton H. at Gulfstream next out, Capt. Candyman Can ran bravely in defeat in the Churchill Downs S. (G2) on Derby day. Leading by two lengths after six furlongs, the five-year-old yielded grudgingly to finish fourth, a half-length behind Aikenite (Yes It’s True). Calvin Borel, who took the reins for the first time in the Churchill Downs, has the return call for the Aristides.

NOBLE’S PROMISE (Cuvee) ran one of the best races of his career in the
course-and-distance Jimmy V. S. last November on Breeders’ Cup weekend. The
Grade 1 veteran has raced sparingly since, and only made his seasonal debut when
two lengths fifth in the Churchill Downs. Seventh in that seven-furlong feature
was HERE COMES BEN (Street Cry [Ire]), last year’s Forego S. (G1) winner who
also ran a dull one in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in his 2010 finale.

Riley Tucker has lost seven of eight since taking the 2010 Aristides, where
he benefited from a pace meltdown. He enters his title defense off a runner-up
allowance finish to Cash Refund, who could prove dangerous Saturday if able to
shake loose on an early lead. The 6-5 favorite in last year’s Aristides, Cash
Refund failed to show his customary early foot that day and retreated to third.
Atta Boy Roy, who first made headlines upsetting the 2010 Churchill Downs,
declined in form late last year but recently got back on the winning track in a
May 1 allowance at Turf Paradise.

The Aristides field is rounded out by HURRICANE IKE (Graeme Hall), the 2010
Derby Trial S. (G3) winner who is making his second start back from a winter
break, and GOOD LORD (Greatness), a recent allowance winner who was
cross-entered in a turf race on Friday.

MIGHT (Arch), a full sister to last year’s champion older male Blame, makes
her stakes debut Saturday in the $100,000
Dogwood S.
(G3), a one-mile test for three-year-old fillies. Favored in all three
previous starts, Might finished second by a head in her debut at Fair Grounds
then graduated at the same track by 1 1/2 lengths. Last time, she romped by 4
3/4 lengths against allowance company on the Oaks day undercard.

Dual stakes winner GRAN LIONESS (Lion Heart) returns to her surface of
preference after flashing speed and retreating to last in the April 17 Beaumont
S. (G2) at Keeneland. The Bret Calhoun trainee won the My Trusty Cat S. and
Prima Donna S. and ran third in the Rachel Alexandra S. (G3) earlier this year.

Martha Washington S. winner HOLY HEAVENS (Holy Bull) takes a class drop after
chasing Joyful Victory (Tapit) in the Fantasy S. (G2) and Honeybee S. (G3) and
incurring a horribly wide trip in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Others of note in the
Dogwood are FANTASY OF FLIGHT (Tiznow), a convincing debut winner on Oaks day,
and SALTY STRIKE (Smart Strike), a seven-length allowance winner on May 20.