Aurelia's Belle should be potent off layoff in Mint Julep Handicap

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Before racing fans at Churchill Downs turn their undivided attention to the simulcast of the Belmont Stakes, they’ll have a chance to take their swings at a 10-race program that ends with the best race of the day.

The Grade 3 Mint Julep Handicap is the Saturday feature and finale all in one, and with a ridiculously well-matched field of 12 fillies and mares, it should provide a fitting segue into the televised drama from Belmont Park.

Trainer Wayne Catalano has two contenders in the uncoupled duo of Aurelia’s Belle (post 1) and I’m Already Sexy (post 3) in the 39th running of the $100,000 Mint Julep, a 1 1/16-mile turf race that concludes a live Churchill card scheduled to start at 12:45 p.m. Eastern and end at 6:17.

Post time for the Belmont, which will be shown on the Big Board and most other video monitors throughout the facility, is 6:50.

Catalano said he is very pleased with how his horses are training into the Mint Julep.

“They both got nice inside posts and are doing really well,” he said.

KEY CONTENDERS

Aurelia’s Belle (Last 3 Beyers: 68-86-86)

◗ This daughter of 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid has been away nearly nine months but clearly has the class to prevail off the bench, having raced exclusively and competitively in graded races since winning her first career start.

I’m Already Sexy (Last 3 Beyers: 82-86-83)

◗ She wasn’t able to make an impact in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on Kentucky Derby Day, but this spot seems a bit lighter, and she has proven herself quite effective when facing the likes of this lineup.

Personal Diary (Last 3 Beyers: 83-87-85)

◗ Winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last summer, this homebred daughter of City Zip has faced elite company in four subsequent tries and will be asked to overcome the far outside post 12 in trying to get back in winning form.

Strike Charmer (Last 3 Beyers: 85-80-80)

◗ An impressive winner of the Grade 3 Cardinal over the Churchill turf last fall, this Courtlandt Farms homebred ran respectably in the Distaff Mile but was a tad overmatched; she, too, fits well here.

Canny Nanny (Last 3 Beyers: 87-80-85)

◗ This one-time claimer got a nice ride from Joe Rocco Jr. in knocking out her second allowance condition here four Saturdays ago and matches up well with these other favorites in Beyers and recency.