Bondurant cutting back for Turf Sprint

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Ian Wilkes doesn’t know – because no one knows for sure about such things – but he highly suspects Bondurant could do his best at shorter distances.

“This could be in his wheelhouse,” Wilkes said in regard to Bondurant turning back from longer races as one of a handful of contenders Saturday in a wide-open renewal of the $400,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint.

Bondurant, the older half-brother to top 3-year-old McCraken, is one of 11 3-year-olds and upward in the Grade 3 Turf Sprint, a 6 1/2-furlong race that follows its sister race, the Ladies Sprint, as the ninth of 10 races at Kentucky Downs.

Bondurant will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. Five of his six races this year have come in stakes, including the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland, the Grade 2 Wise Dan at Churchill Downs, and the $150,000 Forbidden Apple at Belmont.

“Hopefully there’ll be enough speed to set things up,” Wilkes said. “He’s a good horse. It’s just about finding the right spot for him.”

Other major players in the Turf Sprint include Commend, who retains Jose Ortiz after winning twice in New York from his last three starts; Undrafted, an earner of more than $1.36 million trained by Wesley Ward; and Hogy, an 8-year-old gelding who could surpass $1 million in earnings with a victory in his first appearance since being claimed last month by Mike Maker on behalf of Michael Hui.

Hogy, first or second in 27 of 44 starts, is “as tough as iron, the old man,” Maker said.

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The $350,000 Ladies Sprint (race 8), also set for 6 1/2 furlongs, drew a similarly competitive crew of 11, with the 2016 winner, Mississippi Delta, having been assigned the rail post. Trained by Mark Casse, the 5-year-old mare will be looking to rebound off a subpar effort at Saratoga after having captured the ungraded Intercontinental during Belmont Stakes week in New York.

Right alongside Mississippi Delta in post 2 will be Fair Point, a highly consistent 5-year-old mare with 13 wins or seconds from 18 career starts. Trained by Shug McGaughey for Stuart Janney, Fair Point will be ridden as usual by Ortiz and is looking for her first victory of 2017.

Another prime consideration is Lull, a 3-year-old facing older for the first time. Lull won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies here last fall under Hernandez.

“She did it all pretty easily that day,” Hernandez said.

For her most recent start, Lull was shipped by trainer Christophe Clement to Del Mar, where she finished second in the Grade 2 San Clemente going a mile.

“I think that cutting back, she’ll be live in here, you’d have to think,” Hernandez said.

Purses for both races include $200,000 bonuses for eligible Kentucky-breds.