Bourbon Courage looks to bounce back in Commonwealth

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland’s opening weekend is a welcome sign of spring for many, including Bourbon Courage, among the logical contenders in a seven-horse lineup for the Grade 3, $300,000 Commonwealth Stakes on the Saturday card.

The millionaire is looking to atone for a 10th-place finish in his 2015 debut, the Grade 3 General George Handicap on Feb. 16 at Laurel Park, where he contended with the frigid winter that gripped the region for extended periods.

“That turned out to be a tough ship to Laurel [from Florida],” trainer Kellyn Gorder said this week. “We shipped him up there ... and the temperature dropped when he got there. It was 7 degrees on the day of the race. He didn’t seem like he handled the track, and he was buried in the 1 hole. It was the worst finish of his life, but he still did not get beat that far.”

Bourbon Courage won the Grade 2 Super Derby as a 3-year-old and has placed in a handful of Grade 1 events, including a runner-up effort in the Donn Handicap. Now 6, the horse found new life as a closing sprinter last fall, beginning with a 3 1/4-length score in a 6 1/2-furlong optional-claiming event at Keeneland, his first victory in more than two years. He followed up with a rallying fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, beaten less than two lengths after passing 10 horses in the stretch, and a third in the Cigar Mile.

Bourbon Courage indicated his readiness for the Commonwealth with back-to-back bullet works at Keeneland, most recently a half in 47.20 seconds Monday. Paco Lopez has the call on the horse, well drawn in post 3.

C. Zee comes off a 2 3/4-length score in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Sprint, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 99. The colt showed solid form at Keeneland last fall, finishing second by a length in the Grade 3 Phoenix Stakes to the eventual Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and divisional champion, Work All Week. The Stanley Gold trainee drew outside under Edgard Zayas.

Form from Keeneland’s main track transferred well to Santa Anita last year, with fall-meet graded stakes winners Work All Week, Don’t Tell Sophia, and Carpe Diem all winning or placing in Breeders’ Cup events. Grade 2 winner Kobe’s Back now will attempt the reverse, coming off a close runner-up effort in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes. That marked his first start in more than seven months due to injury and his first for trainer Peter Eurton. Gary Stevens is in to ride the colt from post 2.

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Key contenders

Bourbon Courage (Last 3 Beyers: 87-100-100)

* Earned three consecutive 100 Beyers to end 2014, including in a win at Keeneland.

Kobe’s Back (Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-91)

* Has run well at the seven-furlong distance, winning the San Vicente last year and most recently finishing second in the San Carlos.

* Has not won in three starts outside of California.

C. Zee (Last 3 Beyers: 99-92-97)

* Earned the highest last-out Beyer in the field with a career-best 99.

* Second on this track to eventual champion Work All Week last fall.

* Is 3 for 3 on tracks rated worse than fast – worth noting if the track doesn’t dry quickly following Friday rain.

I Got It All (Last 3 Beyers: 97-96-84)

* Allowance winner at seven furlongs at Keeneland last fall with career-best 100 Beyer.

* Comes off a third in the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn.

Jessica’s Star (Last 3 Beyers: 85-90-89)

* Grade 3 winner makes his first start since finishing fifth in Super Derby almost seven months ago.