Blue Prize looms large in Fleur de Lis Handicap

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Blue Prize was an 8 1/2-length winner of the Grade 2 Falls City last autumn at Churchill Downs, and that in itself seems enough to make the Argentine-bred mare a major threat Saturday night in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap.

“She likes Churchill and has always run good there,” trainer Ignacio Correas said this week from his Keeneland base. “She’s done a lot of shipping already this year, so it’s good to have a race for her close to home.”

Blue Prize was based all winter at Tampa Bay Downs, but her three starts this year have been at Aqueduct, Oaklawn, and Pimlico. In her last start, on Preakness weekend, she was second as the favorite in the Grade 3 duPont Distaff after opening a clear midstretch lead.

“I don’t think everything was in her favor that day,” said Correas. “She was a little too close early, and I don’t think she likes the slop.”

One allowance here Friday

With so many big races here Saturday night, a nine-race Friday card will include just one allowance, with Tamit perhaps the horse to beat after an encouraging last start for trainer Norm Casse.

Tamit was making her first start in six months when she was beaten just a neck while going a mile for the same first-level condition that governs the eighth of nine Friday races. On Friday, the Irish-bred mare will be stretching out another furlong on the grass facing seven other fillies and mares for a $59,500 purse.

First post Friday is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the Single 6 spanning races 4-9. A four-day race week started Thursday with $450,840 in the Single 6 jackpot.

Quip likely to Indiana

Quip, the Tampa Bay Derby winner, had been considered for the Matt Winn Stakes here Saturday night, but instead is being pointed to the July 14 Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand, said trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

Quip most recently was a distant last of eight in the May 19 Preakness. Brisset said the colt had no major excuse for that effort but has rebounded to train forwardly at his Keeneland base.

◗ Jose and Irad Ortiz Jr. and the other New York-based jockeys who will be riding the Saturday stakes at Churchill after being active earlier in the day at Belmont Park are scheduled to travel by private charter, according to Jimmy Riccio, the agent for Jose Ortiz. The first stakes, the Matt Winn, is scheduled for 7:57 p.m.

– additional reporting by Byron King