Bourbon not an easy spot for Mutasaabeq to make turf debut

Over the last dozen years, when trainer Mark Casse isn’t winning the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland, trainer Todd Pletcher often is. Casse has no runner in Sunday’s renewal of the 1 1/16-mile grass race for 2-year-olds, but Pletcher starts Mutasaabeq, who will be well supported in his turf debut.

The Bourbon, race 8 with a scheduled post of 5:10 p.m. Eastern, is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race offering automatic fees-paid entry into the BC Juvenile Turf, also at Keeneland this year.

Mutasaabeq looked like a leading 2-year-old dirt horse when he won his career debut Aug. 8 at Saratoga by 4 1/2 lengths, earning a robust 84 Beyer Speed Figure. But Sept. 7, in the Grade 1 Hopeful, Mutasaabeq was run off his feet by Jackie’s Warrior, who stormed to victory as Mutasaabeq faded to third.

Pletcher, who won this race in 2006, 2008, 2009, and most recently with Current in 2018, immediately went to a different plan, moving Mutasaabeq to turf for his only two works since the Hopeful. Mutasaabeq is by Into Mischief, who is not known for getting turf horses, and out of the Grand Slam mare, Downside Scenario. Chad Brown trained Downside Scenario, who raced exclusively on turf but wasn’t especially talented. She was claimed for $40,000 in her final start and appeared to prefer distances less than one mile.

At 3-1 on the morning line, Mutasaabeq does not appear to offer much value.

The race, in fact, is a mishmash of form. Barrister Tom posted a huge upset winning the rich Kentucky Downs Juvenile in his most recent start, in the process overcoming what appeared to be an outside bias on the card as he slipped up the rail to victory. Barrister Tom could contend in the Bourbon but just as easily could finish eighth, the race’s entire picture further complicated by the prospect of rain.

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Wesley Ward has two entrants, Into the Sunrise and Blame the Booze, the latter a more likely factor should this race get rained onto dirt, as it did in 2017 when Flameaway won. Into the Sunrise has never been farther than 6 1/2 furlongs but in his most recent start at Woodbine finished a close second to Gretzky the Great, who returned to win the Grade 1 Summer Stakes.

“We’ve been training him to route,” Ward said. “You’d think he can go the distance.”

Hidden Enemy, cross-entered in a Saturday stakes at Pimlico, is a two-race maiden but hooked horses in both his starts comparable in quality to his Bourbon rivals.

Worth a look at a long price is Arrest Me Red, who dominated a Laurel Park turf-sprint maiden in his only race. Trained by Arnaud Delacour, Arrest Me Red showed push-button acceleration in his lone start while carrying himself like a horse who can stay two turns. His morning-line odds are 20-1.

Golden Pal tops Indian Summer

The initial plan called for Golden Pal, who ranks among the fastest 2-year-old turf sprinters in the world, to train up to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint after winning the Skidmore Stakes on Aug. 21 at Saratoga. That plan has changed, as trainer Wesley Ward said he intends to run all three of his entrants, including Golden Pal, in Sunday’s $150,000 Indian Summer Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf dash.

The Indian Summer is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, and it was the prospect of automatic fees-paid entry into the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint that lured owner Randall Lowe into starting Golden Pal.

“The Win and You’re In kind of enticed the owners,” Ward said.

Golden Pal, racing on softer ground than he might prefer, lost the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot by a neck while finishing well in front of the rest of the field. He returned to sharply win the Skidmore, and is getting better all the time, Ward said.

“When I legged Tyler Gaffalione up on him the first time,” in a maiden dirt race April 17 at Gulfstream, “I told him, ‘I think this is going to be one of the best horses I ever trained in my life.’ Unfortunately, he got beat that day! He’s so talented, but he was just so green early on. Now, he’s really coming around mentally this guy,” Ward said.

Golden Pal is one of several horses with ample early speed, but Ward said the colt has been working from behind other horses and can rate off the pace if need be.

Ward also entered Roderick and the filly Wink. Roderick would be making his turf debut if the race stays on grass and hasn’t been on turf since a spring workout at Palm Meadows. He was an eye-catching debut winner at Belmont before flopping at odds of 1-2 in the Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 8 at Del Mar. Ward believes Roderick lost his air during that race and said the colt has returned to train exceptionally. He can win on dirt, but on turf, the Indian Summer will have a Golden glow.