Besides the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on Saturday evening, four other stakes are part of a banner night of racing – three graded races for Thoroughbreds that lead up to the Foster and then an Arabian stakes race that goes immediately after it.
As it has been for much of the current Churchill Downs meet, due to fairly continuous short fields, it was hard to catch a price Friday. Seven of the nine winners returned less than $6 apiece.
The $125,000 Bold Ruckus is a crapshoot because seven of the nine entrants are racing on turf for the first time in the six-furlong stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds.
Steady rains forced the five carded grass races onto the main track. The heavy rains did not affect first-timer Nonna’s Boy ($2.20) in the opener. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 2-year-old son of Distorted Humor was absolutely hammered at the windows as some strong works and Pletcher’s success with juvenile firsters saw him at 1-9.
Awesome Eclipse pulled off a 41-1 upset under Sheena Ryan in the $82,154 allowance prep for the July 6 Highlander Stakes, scoring by a half-length over another older gelding, Paso Doble.
After last Saturday’s wonderful gluttony of action, things are a lot quieter on the stakes front this weekend, but some ramifications remain. On Saturday, the Astoria for 2-year-old fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs is slated, while on Sunday, the boys’ version, the Tremont, is carded.
DRF Plus handicapping analysis for Santa Anita on Saturday, June 14.
DRF Plus graded stakes analysis for the Obeah at Delaware Park on Saturday, June 14.
DRF Plus handicapping analysis for Churchill Downs on Saturday, June 14.
DRF Plus handicapping analysis for Belmont on Saturday, June 14.
