Amarachi tries to remain unbeaten off layoff in turf sprint
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tevis Q. McCauley already has the distinction of being the rare trainer with that middle initial. If he doesn’t watch out, McCauley also could become known as a trainer who’s adept at winning turf sprints with young homebreds.
McCauley turned some heads this summer when Sylven Park won back-to-back turf sprints at Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park, and now he’ll try to keep Amarachi unbeaten in two starts when the 3-year-old filly goes postward as one of the favorites in the lone allowance on a 10-race Thursday card at Churchill.
Amarachi was bred and is owned by McCauley’s father, Ron. The daughter of Northern Afleet was impressive here in the spring when leading throughout in her first and only start.
“She’s a really nice filly,” said McCauley, 31. “She didn’t come off that first race quite the way we wanted to, so we gave her 60 days on our farm, and she’s come back really well.”
Sylven Park was bred in partnership by McCauley and one of his four brothers, Nathan. Ron McCauley operates a 270-acre farm and two car dealerships in central Kentucky, and the family has become heavily involved in racing in the last decade or so, with Tevis turning to training in 2011.
Amarachi, with four recorded workouts under her belt since early October, will break from post 2 with leading jockey Corey Lanerie aboard in the ninth race, a $57,000, first-level allowance at five furlongs on the turf. Eleven 3- and 4-year-old fillies are entered, although only as many as 10 will start.
First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern, with the nominal feature set for 4:45.
KEY CONTENDERS
Amarachi (Beyer: 75)
◗ She scarcely could have looked much better when scooting away from her inside post in that May 31 debut in an effort further validated by the way runner-up Carolina Jasmine wheeled back 20 days later to win a similar maiden race at Churchill.
Diva Express (Last 3 Beyers: 62-77-79)
◗ Assuming you can forgive that latest subpar effort when she was the beaten favorite at Kentucky Downs, this filly has to be considered a major threat for the Mark Casse stable given her two solid summer performances at Saratoga.
Elusive Holiday (Last 3 Beyers: 85-84-26)
◗ This Charlie LoPresti-trained filly earned those back-to-back field-high Beyer Speed Figures when 38-1 at Kentucky Downs and 62-1 at Keeneland, but now that she’s in a lighter spot, she figures to be in the low single digits on the tote.