Arnold has two for Roxelana Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Bret Calhoun has opted to pass on the $75,000 Roxelana here Saturday with Finley’sluckycharm, who surely would have been a heavy favorite in the six-furlong race. Instead, Finley’sluckycharm, who has been working steadily here since June 3, will make her next start July 25 in the Honorable Miss at Saratoga, said Calhoun.

Her absence leaves trainer Rusty Arnold with clearly the strongest hand for the Roxelana, which anchors an 11-race card. Arnold will send out the uncoupled duo of Miss Kentucky, the winner of the Grade 3 Winning Colors here May 26, and Annathela, an allowance winner here the same day.

Golden Domer, third in the Winning Colors, and the multiple graded stakes winner Vertical Oak also are among the seven fillies and mares entered Wednesday for the Roxelana.

Just two six-figure stakes, the $100,000 Bashford Manor and $100,000 Debutante, remain at the 38-day spring meet, with both set for closing day, June 30.

One allowance here Friday

A first-level allowance sprint for 3-year-olds serves as the nominal feature on a Friday card otherwise comprising maiden or claiming races. Likely favorites vying for a $59,500 purse in the eighth of nine races include Hubbadahubbadaboom, John Tippmann, and Rubus, with five of the eight starters entered for an optional $75,000 claiming tag.

First post Friday is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the Single 6 spanning races 4-9. A four-day race week was scheduled to start Thursday evening with $13,982 in the Single 6 jackpot.

Hall of Fame trainer resurfaces

Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger is semiretired but frequently can be seen in the company of his longtime business associate and former assistant Ian Wilkes either during morning training hours or at the races.

Nafzger, 76, has not run a horse in his own name since Scamp finished third in an Ellis Park maiden race last August, but that self-imposed drought will end here Friday when he sends out Market Data in the ninth race. One of the owners in the 3-year-old gelding is Nafzger’s wife, Wanda.