Birdatthewire looks to snap losing streak in Chilukki
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainers Dale Romans and Ken McPeek have stables so strong that when they run fillies in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs, the race will be for only one-tenth of the purse for which their barnmates are competing the same day.
Romans, who has Birdatthewire and Engaginglee in the Chilukki, has the 7-2 morning-line favorite in the $2 Million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita with Not This Time, while McPeek, who races Kathballu in the Chilukki, has 12-1 shot Daddys Lil Darling in the Juvenile Fillies.
Meanwhile, in the Chilukki, Birdatthewire, the lone Grade 1 winner in the nine-horse lineup, is likely to go off as the public choice over Kathballu, a graded-stakes-placed filly who rolled in an allowance at Keeneland on Oct. 9.
Birdatthewire, owned by Forum Racing IV, looks ready for one of her better opportunities of the year after going winless in eight races since capturing the Grade 1 La Brea in December. The Chilukki is light by Grade 2 standards, with Roman’s other starter, Engaginglee, the race’s only other graded stakes winner.
The surface and distance of the Chilukki, coming on dirt in a one-turn mile, should suit Birdatthewire after she ran eighth in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters over that track’s synthetic Tapeta surface.
Drayden Van Dyke, in from California to ride the Friday and Saturday cards at Churchill, is aboard.
Kathballu, twice graded-stakes-placed, seems to have maintained her edge since her Oct. 9 victory at Keeneland, firing a bullet half-mile workout in 47 seconds there Oct. 29. She is 3 for 8 over the Churchill main track.
Key Contenders
Mayla, by Sharp Humor
Last 3 Beyers: 78-82-88
◗ Although just a restricted stakes winner, she may pose the greatest threat to the favorites with her early speed. If sent early from her inside post, she may be able to establish a slow pace.
Birdatthewire, by Summer Bird
Last 3 Beyers: 72-95-87
◗ Finished a close fourth in the Grade 1 Ballerina when she last raced in a dirt sprint, finishing a couple of lengths behind Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint morning-line favorite Haveyougoneaway.
Kathballu, by Bluegrass Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 88-70-75
◗ Although she figures to enjoy a smooth trip pressing or contesting what should be a slow pace, she is stretched out a furlong from her best distance of seven furlongs. She ran sixth in the Grade 3 Groupie Doll in her only dirt race at a mile.
