Acapulco preps for return to Royal Ascot in Unbridled Sydney

The first post-Kentucky Derby graded stakes at Churchill Downs is the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap on May 21, but that doesn’t mean a graded-stakes horse won’t make an appearance here in the meantime.

Acapulco, the winner of the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes last summer, will tune up for a return overseas by running here this Saturday in the featured Unbridled Sydney, a $65,000 overnight stakes for filly-and-mare turf sprinters. Acapulco is pointing to the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup next month at Royal Ascot.

◗ Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens apparently will continue to ride at Churchill for the duration of the spring meet, according to agent Jaws Miller. Stevens, a winner of more than 5,000 races, is named on three mounts Friday, all for trainer Dale Romans. Stevens and his wife, Angie, maintain a home in the Lake Forest section east of Louisville. Their main base in recent years has been Southern California.

◗ Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert still had 10 horses in Barn 33 as of Wednesday, but assistant Jimmy Barnes said he was unsure if any will be staying at Churchill or will be sent elsewhere, other than Collected heading to the Preakness on one of the Sutton charters. “Bob said he’d let me know about all of them by this weekend,” said Barnes.

◗ Miguel Mena is easing back into the saddle after returning from a broken wrist sustained in a March 25 spill on the Fair Grounds turf. Mena, 29, was named on two mounts here Thursday and two Friday after recently being cleared by his physician.