Big names send out contenders in allowance
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mark Casse is off to England. Steve Asmussen and Dallas Stewart are off to New York. But at some point Thursday evening, these trainers of big racing stables will divert their attention back to Churchill Downs, where they all have a role in the highlight of the Thursday card.
Casse, who runs Tepin at Royal Ascot next Tuesday, has the program favorite in Sky My Sky in the seventh race, a $55,500, first-level allowance. Asmussen, who runs Creator and Gettysburg in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, will send out the streaking Indypendent Deputy, while Stewart – who has the longshot duo of Forever d’Oro and Seeking the Soul in the Belmont – will be represented by Ready for Chianti.
That trio is among a well-matched field of 11 3-year-old fillies in a 1 1/16-mile turf race, which goes as the seventh of eight races. One richer allowance – a $59,500, third-level turf mile that drew just six starters – kicks off a program that starts at 5 p.m. Eastern.
The seventh race is part of the Single Six sequence, which runs from races 3 through 8. The jackpot carryover in the 20-cent wager stands at $514,844 into Thursday’s action.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sky My Sky, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers: 72-78-76
◗ Well drawn on the hedge with Julien Leparoux to ride, this bay filly was a two-back maiden winner over the Gulfstream Park turf before trying an ungraded stakes.
Indypendent Deputy, by Any Given Saturday
Last 3 Beyers: 69-63-62
◗ This H V Farms homebred will break from the outside post and is being raised in class off three straight victories under Shaun Bridgmohan, who once again will be aboard.
Ready for Chianti, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 82-66-62
◗ A maiden winner at Fair Grounds in February, she jumped up with easily her career-best Beyer Speed Figure when finishing second at 28-1 in her most recent start May 14 for this same condition.
Res Ipsa, by English Channel
Last 3 Beyers: 74-62-64
◗ This Ian Wilkes-trained filly has improved in each of her four starts and was a sharp maiden winner on the May 7 Kentucky Derby card in her most recent outing.
A previous version of this article misidentified one horse and omitted another of Steve Asmussen's contenders in the Belmont Stakes. Asmussen will be saddling Creator and Gettysburg in the Belmont.