Airoforce gets more ground in Dueling Grounds Derby
FRANKLIN, Ky. – Airoforce came out on the short end of his latest duel, but if the gray colt repeats the effort he showed in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame Stakes, “I’ve got to think he’ll be pretty tough Sunday,” trainer Mark Casse said.
The $350,000 Dueling Grounds Derby marks the return of Airoforce, whose competitiveness in the 3-year-old turf division justifies his being the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a full field of 12 at turf-only Kentucky Downs. The Derby is one of two 1 5/16-mile stakes, along with the $200,000 Dueling Grounds Oaks, anchoring a 10-race Sunday card that starts at 1:25 p.m. Central.
Airoforce battled fiercely down the stretch with Camelot Kitten in a nose defeat in the Aug. 5 Hall of Fame, but Casse is not discouraged, especially now that Airoforce will be stretching out from that 1 1/16-mile Saratoga race to the once-around distance of the irregularly shaped Kentucky Downs oval.
“He got unlucky getting beat that way at Saratoga,” Casse said. “The good news is he’s running the way we always thought he should. I don’t see why he wouldn’t like a little more distance this time around.”
Julien Leparoux, who returned this week from a monthlong layoff following a wrist injury, will be aboard Airoforce from post 10. Right alongside in post 11 will be one of his main challengers, Oscar Nominated, most recently beaten just 1 1/2 lengths when fifth in the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington Park.
“I thought it was a very good run,” trainer Mike Maker said. “He didn’t get beat very far. At the quarter pole, he got bumped around and kind of lost his edge, or maybe he would’ve gotten a bigger piece.”
The Dueling Grounds Derby directly follows the Oaks as the ninth race on a terrific card that also includes two Claiming Crown qualifiers, three allowances, and three maiden special weight events. Purses for all non-claiming/starter races at Kentucky Downs include sizable bonuses restricted to horses eligible to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
After Sunday, only a Thursday card remains at the five-day Kentucky Downs meet. An 11-day meet starts Friday at Churchill Downs.
KEY CONTENDERS
Airoforce, by Colonel John
Last 3 Beyers: 92-89-86
◗ Second as the favorite last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, this colt has finally come back around, with the big Hall of Fame effort resulting in a career-high Beyer Speed Figure.
Oscar Nominated, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: 90-84-80
◗ Winner of the Grade 3 Spiral at Turfway Park in March, this onetime claimer has run three creditable races on turf since being overmatched in the Kentucky Derby.
Manitoulin, by Awesome Again
Last 3 Beyers: 88-87-86
◗ Carrying the historic brown-and-fawn silks of Darby Dan Farm, this son of champion Soaring Softly has been brought along deliberately by veteran trainer Jimmy Toner and stands to move up off his latest start on Travers Day.
Little Scotty, by Paddy O’Prado
Last 3 Beyers: 93-89-85
◗ One of nearly a dozen horses sent east for this meet by Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale, this half-brother to $3.5 million earner Little Mike ran big in back-to-back allowances at Del Mar.
