Annathela's love for track makes her threat in allowance
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The curtain falls Sunday at Churchill Downs, a mere 16 days after things got going here. Ten closing-day races will bring an end to yet another eventful September meet, including a pair of allowances with eyebrow-raising purses that have become standard on this circuit.
Race 3 is a $99,000 main-track sprint in which half of the field of eight fillies and mares are entered for an optional $62,500 claiming tag. Two of those, Sterling Miss and Annathela, figure as major players in the six-furlong race, while Skamania, in off two respectable races at Saratoga, is a contender who is eligible for the two-other-than condition.
Annathela, trained by Rusty Arnold, appears to have gone off form, but that’s partly because her last four starts all were in stakes. Her Churchill record – 3 wins and 4 seconds from 11 starts – makes her worthy of careful consideration.
Skamania, said trainer Al Stall Jr., “has been training consistently good all summer long, and her races are pretty good.”
“We tried to run her a third time before the meet ended at Saratoga, but her race didn’t go,” Stall said. “I’d hope she’ll be able to make it through this condition sooner than later.”
Race 9 is a $97,000 first-level turf route in which a pair of 2-year-old colts exiting the Kentucky Downs Juvenile, Fenwick Station and Memorable, figure to attract the most tote action. Drought-like conditions have hovered over the local region throughout the month, and no turf races had been transferred to the dirt all meet, meaning the lone main-track-only designate, Beyond Gone, surely will be scratched, leaving no more than eight starters.
Two maiden-special races worth as much as $95,000 (races 8 and 10) also help wind down the meet finale. All maiden and allowance races at Kentucky tracks include sizable bonuses for horses registered with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Skamania, a Florida-bred, runs for the equivalent of $67,300 in her race.
Because this meet is ending, mandatory disbursements will be made for all jackpot pools – although that’s mostly a moot point, given Churchill opted for a forceout of the Single 6 during its card Saturday night.
First post for the 11th September card is 12:45 p.m. Eastern. After Sunday, this circuit goes dark for four days before Keeneland begins its 17-day fall meet Friday. Action returns to Churchill for a fall meet that runs from Oct. 27 to Dec. 1.