Alsvid deals Work All Week first defeat on dirt in Aristides
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With benefit of four races already this year, Alsvid dealt Work All Week his first defeat over a dirt surface by drawing off to a two-length victory Saturday in the 27th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Aristides at Churchill Downs.
Work All Week, the 2014 champion sprinter, finished second in a field of seven older horses when making his first start since Nov. 1, when a 19-1 upset in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint ran his career mark to 10 for 10 on dirt.
Work All Week had just taken command at the quarter-pole in the six-furlong Aristides but had no response when Alsvid and jockey Chris Landeros came rolling up alongside.
Alsvid, owned by the Black Hawk Stable of James Rogers, returned $7.20 as second choice after finishing in 1:09.34. It was the third straight victory for Alsvid, following a March allowance and the April 9 Count Fleet, both at Oaklawn Park, where the 6-year-old Officer gelding had a total of four races this season..
Alsvid “had really been training super,” said his trainer, Chris Hartman. “We really thought we had a good shot coming in.”
Work All Week, the 3-5 favorite for Midwest Thoroughbreds and trainer Roger Brueggemann, stumbled when leaving his outside post but quickly recovered under Florent Geroux. Maintaining a safe outside path, he easily overtook Googleado and Good Lord in the turn and had clear sailing for the stretch run, only to come up short.
“I’m not too disappointed,” said Midwest owner Richard Papiese. “It was our decision not to send early, and he did stumble. He’ll be fine, though. Next time out you’ll see a different horse.”
Nates Mineshaft finished third, another 4 1/2 lengths behind Work All Week. Then came Viva Majorca, Gentlemen’s Bet, Good Lord, and Googleado.
The $2 exacta (1-7) paid $16.20, the $1 trifecta (1-7-5) returned $56.50, and the 10-cent superfecta (1-7-5-2) was worth $15.51.
The Aristides was run just before a quick, hard rain came down on Churchill.
Commanding Curve wins 4-year-old debut
Earlier Saturday, Commanding Curve ($3.60) made a successful return from a nine-month layoff when winning a first-level, $50,032 allowance at 1 1/16 miles. The 4-year-old Commanding Curve is best known for finishing second at 37-1 in the 2014 Kentucky Derby.
With Shaun Bridgmohan riding for West Point Thoroughbreds and trainer Dallas Stewart, Commanding Curve won by three-quarters of a length in finishing in 1:43.24 over a fast track.
West Point spokesman Jeff Lifson said the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap on Aug. 8 at Saratoga is the main summer goal.