Bling On the Music risks perfect mark in Pocahontas

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Some serious sports action will take place here Saturday along Central Avenue, and not just on the gridiron at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

After Louisville guns for a mild upset over visiting Florida State in a showdown that kicks off at noon Eastern, quite a few sports fans will make the short walk over to Churchill Downs to catch a couple of stakes with implications for the Breeders’ Cup.

The Iroquois (race 8) and Pocahontas (race 10), both Win and You’re In races toward the Nov. 4-5 Breeders’ Cup, are foremost among four stakes on an 11-race Churchill card that starts at 2:30 p.m. The Locust Grove (race 3) and Open Mind (race 9) help to round out a day packed with action.

The Grade 2, $200,000 Pocahontas is the richest of the stakes quartet and perhaps the deepest as well. Ten 2-year-old fillies will clash at 1 1/16 miles, with the winner receiving 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks next spring.

Two of the top contenders will break from opposite ends of the Churchill starting gate: Bling On the Music, a gray Texas-bred who has gone unchallenged in three career starts, will start from post 1, and Sully’s Dream, an eye-catching winner of her lone start, will leave from post 10.

Bling On the Music “does everything with ease,” said trainer J.R. Caldwell, who won the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs last Saturday with Texas Chrome. “She’s handled everything unbelievably, and we’ve got to take that next step up. With her running style, she just does everything so easily.”

Sully’s Dream won a July 30 off-the-turf maiden race at Ellis Park by 12 lengths, leading trainer Kellyn Gorder to say afterward that she might be the best filly he has ever trained.

“It’s everything: her size, her mind, her stride, she’s pretty cool mentally — she’s fast,” said Gorder.

Between those two unbeatens are some other promising fillies, including Ever So Clever, who won her career debut July 1 at Churchill by seven lengths before finishing fifth as the 9-5 second choice in the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga.

“We have the comfort of knowing that she likes the racetrack,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “I’ve learned to not overreact to a good or a bad race at Saratoga. I think she’s been waiting for the opportunity to run around two turns.”

This is the 48th running of the Pocahontas. It’s the last of the four stakes, with post time set for 6:59. The last race goes at 7:29.

KEY CONTENDERS

Bling On the Music, by Too Much Bling

Last 3 Beyers: 79-88-78

◗ Bred by Will Farish, this filly has never been headed in her three races, all sprints in Texas and Colorado. She won them by a combined 26 1/4 lengths.

Sully’s Dream, by Colonel John

Beyer: 60

◗ She’s facing a much tougher crowd than what she met at Ellis, but Gorder and jockey Robby Albarado both are veterans who have expressed great confidence in her.

Ever So Clever, by Medaglia d’Oro

Beyers: 51-72

◗ Her victory on closing weekend of the Churchill spring meet gives Asmussen realistic hope for his third Pocahontas winner, following Punch Appeal (2004) and Untapable (2013).

Dream Dancing, by Tapit

Beyers: 74-71

◗ Gray filly is going from turf to dirt and has valuable two-turn experience for trainer Mark Casse, who’ll otherwise be busy Saturday when running Tepin in the Woodbine Mile.