Cash Control, Sweet Acclaim are Mint Julep double punch
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brad Cox hopes to give the opposition the ol’ one-two when he sends out a stalker and a closer Saturday in the Grade 3 Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill Downs.
“They shouldn’t get in each other’s way,” said Cox, referring to Cash Control and Sweet Acclaim, two of the likely favorites in a field of 10 fillies and mares in the $100,000 Mint Julep. “We’ve had this race on our radar for both mares for quite a while now.”
Cash Control figures to be near the early pace in the Mint Julep, a 1 1/16-mile turf race that closes out the Saturday card; Sweet Acclaim will be coming from the back. Both figure to take aim at Mizz Money, a game winner of the Grade 3 Gallorette on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico three weeks ago.
Mizz Money, a Bernie Flint homebred, will have Marlon St. Julien aboard when breaking from post 5 as the 121-pound highweight, spotting her rivals three to seven pounds.
“I gave her some time to develop and grow up, and she sure did,” Flint said. “I’ve always liked her.”
Sweet Acclaim has been impressive since returning from a layoff of nearly 20 months, romping in two allowances in as many starts. The 5-year-old Irish-bred returns to stakes company off those triumphs.
“She really comes with one run,” Cox said. “We’re excited about her.”
Other contenders in the 40th running of the Mint Julep include the 2015 winner, Kiss Moon, who has been off form in recent months; Personal Diary, a Grade 1 winner turning back in distance; and Josdesanimaux, fifth as the pacesetter in the Gallorette.
As the finale of an 11-race card that starts at 12:45 p.m. Eastern, the Mint Julep (post 5:51) will precede the simulcast of the Belmont Stakes from New York. Ontrack fans are invited to watch on the Big Board or television monitors throughout the facility.
KEY CONTENDERS
Cash Control, by Pioneerof the Nile
Last 3 Beyers: 94-90-92
◗ Bred and owned by the Klein family of Louisville, this bay mare has won half of her 14 career starts with a very handy style and comes off a solid third behind Tepin and Rainha Da Bateria in the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on Kentucky Derby Day.
Sweet Acclaim, by Acclamation
Last 3 Beyers: 88-82-80
◗ Based in New York with Chad Brown prior to her hiatus, this mare shows no ill effects from the time off, having blown away decent fields when rounding back to stakes form.
Mizz Money, by Mizzen Mast
Last 3 Beyers: 88-90-92
◗ Gray filly loves a good fight, as evidenced by the way she turned back Cash Control on Louisiana Derby Day and dug in to repel all challengers before a huge Preakness Day audience in Maryland.