Booth, Youalmosthadme ones to beat in undercard sprint stakes

Booth became one of the most exciting 2-year-olds of the season with his debut victory last month at Keeneland, and the form of that race has come back strong.

On Saturday at Churchill Downs, Booth will make his highly anticipated second start in the $225,000 Ed Brown Stakes, part of a strong undercard on a Stars of Tomorrow program dedicated to 2-year-old racing.

Booth retains the services of Ricardo Santana Jr., who was aboard the son of champion sprinter Mitole as he flaunted his hereditary speed Oct. 7. Booth broke alertly and widened as he pleased to a 5 1/2-length victory. The effort by the Steve Asmussen trainee earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96, still tied for the fourth-highest by any juvenile this year.

Booth’s victory was flattered when runner-up Nash came back for a 10 1/4-length maiden win at Churchill this month, earning a 95 Beyer.

Booth, from Mitole’s first crop, is a half-brother to Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Bright Future. He will travel an additional sixteenth of a mile in the 6 1/2-furlong Ed Brown, which should be well within his scope.

Booth drew the outside post in the field of nine and will need to get away well in a field with plenty of speed, as Bowstreet (post 1), Molly’s Town (3), Just Steel (7), and Divieto (8) have all shown early foot. Divieto is coming off a win in the Aventura at Gulfstream Park, while unbeaten Indiana-bred Molly’s Town is getting a class test after winning his four starts, including two stakes, by a combined 24 lengths.

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Bowstreet, by leading sire Into Mischief, is a half-brother to Mitole, as well as Grade 1 winner Hot Rod Charlie. He showed speed on debut before being narrowly caught by Bye Bye Liam. The latter could get a good setup in the Ed Brown if there is a pace meltdown.

Both Normandy Hero, a close second in the Bowman Mill at Keeneland, and Agoo, coming out of some key maiden races, have shown good tactical ability that could have them sitting just off a sharp pace.

Fern Creek Stakes

The sister race to the Ed Brown is the $225,000 Fern Creek Stakes, in which Youalmosthadme will look to keep rolling. Her stakes accomplishments make her a standout in this field.

Off a dominant debut victory in April at Keeneland, Youalmosthadme was privately purchased and transferred to Brad Cox. Shortly afterward, she rolled by 8 3/4 lengths in the Kentucky Juvenile.

Following a brief freshening that allowed her to settle into Cox’s program, she was a solid third in the Ellis Park Debutante after stumbling at the start. Stretched to a one-turn mile at Churchill, she was a well-beaten, but creditable, second in the Grade 3 Pocahontas.

Cut back to six furlongs last out, she rambled home by seven lengths in the Myrtlewood Stakes on Oct. 27 at Keeneland, earning a Beyer of 89.

Several solid maiden and allowance races on the Stars of Tomorrow card include promising runners – and also could provide a form window for the stakes. Among the highlights:

◗ Two runners beaten by Ed Brown entrant Agoo in an Oct. 22 maiden at Keeneland try again in Saturday’s second race, a $120,000 maiden special weight. Linebacker was third to Agoo, while Legalize was fifth.

Daily Grind, a $1.35 million yearling, makes his third start. Eighth on debut after hitting the gate, the Medaglia d’Oro colt was an improved fifth in his second outing. The top three from that race, won by division leader Fierceness, have all come back to win.

◗ The fifth race, a $127,000 allowance/optional-claiming event at a mile, features some runners with stakes experience, including Ice Cold, a 10-length stakes winner against her fellow Indiana-breds. Floored was fifth in the Rags to Riches at Churchill; the top two finishers, West Sunset and Gin Gin, are back in Saturday’s Grade 2 Golden Rod.

◗ Informed Patriot, a full brother to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run, was third in the Grade 3 Street Sense going 1 1/16 miles Oct. 29 at Churchill. In contrast to many who are stretching out in Saturday’s seventh race, a $127,000 allowance/optional claimer at a mile, he is actually cutting back in distance. The same is true of Who Dey, who has won all three of his starts, including the Best of Ohio Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles.

Mystik Dan was second on debut at Keeneland to Agoo. He won his next outing with a 94 Beyer, but at 5 1/2 furlongs.

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Ellis debut winner The Process should relish the distance. His dam is stakes producer Eblouissante.

◗ Track Phantom and Top Gun Rocket – the latter a full brother to multiple graded stakes winner Frank’s Rockette – were second and third, respectively, to Real Men Violin in a Churchill maiden race last month.

Real Men Violin comes back in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on Saturday. Meanwhile, the vanquished are back in the eighth race, a $120,000 maiden going 1 1/16 miles.

Stop the Press, a $1.5 million Saratoga yearling, was sixth on debut going seven furlongs. The son of classic sire Uncle Mo will likely appreciate the added ground.

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