Catalano bullish on Farrell heading into Silverbulletday

NEW ORLEANS – Uncontested, the Wayne Catalano-trained favorite last Monday in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, did not disappoint, and Catalano will be hoping that Farrell also runs to her form when she makes her 3-year-old debut Saturday as the likely favorite in the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Uncontested, a colt, took his first small step toward the Kentucky Derby, and Farrell, a filly, can saunter farther down the Kentucky Oaks trail with a successful 2017 debut in the Silverbulletday, a Kentucky Oaks qualifying race that awards 17 points, distributed 10-4-2-1, to the top four finishers.

The Silverbulletday, carded for a mile and 70 yards on dirt, drew just seven entrants, and no more than six will run since Harkness resides in a barn under quarantine because of the equine herpesvirus outbreak here.

The Silverbulletday probably will be bet as a two-horse race, with Untapped considered the primary rival for Farrell.

Farrell, by Malibu Moon and out of the good producer Rebridled Dreams, has been held in high regard by her connections since early last summer, but she was defeated as the favorite in her Sept. 17 career debut at Churchill Downs before winning a maiden sprint there by five lengths in her second start.

Farrell finished a decent third in the Rags to Riches Stakes and then moved forward considerably while making her two-turn debut in the Grade 2 Golden Rod, which she won in wire-to-wire fashion by six lengths.

Catalano originally had targeted the Rachel Alexandra Stakes next month for Farrell’s comeback but began to seriously consider the Silverbulletday a couple weeks ago as Farrell progressed quickly in her training.

“She’s coming the right way, and I’d say she has matured,” Catalano said. “If we can get her to relax, she’s going to be a better filly.”

Farrell has speed and is drawn inside Untapped, who also has shown front-running tendencies. Farrell still seems likely to go to the lead under regular rider Channing Hill, and her Golden Rod was a stronger performance than anything Untapped has shown.

Untapped, a full sister to the champion Untapable, has won her last two starts following a solid third-place finish in a good Churchill maiden race last September. She scored by more than three lengths while geared down late in a Dec. 23 route allowance at Fair Grounds but was less than impressive through the homestretch after making the lead before the three-furlong pole. Untapped changed leads and drifted to the rail in upper stretch and did not finish strongly, though she has room to improve Saturday.

“She’s a talented filly,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “I have nothing but respect for Catalano’s horse. This is a step in our journey. Hopefully, we’ll have a good campaign with Untapped.”

Summertime Sky debuted here with a sharp turf-sprint maiden win Dec. 31 but is making her two-turn and dirt debut while jumping into stakes competition.

“We know we have a good grass horse,” said assistant trainer David Carroll. “We’d be thrilled to death if she could finish up nicely and get stakes-placed.”

Short Kenner field has talent

Only six were entered in the $75,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes over six furlongs on dirt, but the race does not lack quality. Among the entrants are the razor-sharp Yockey’s Warrior, the Grade 2-winning sprinter Holy Boss, and two more talented horses, Clearly Now and Chief Istan.

Yockey’s Warrior won a Keeneland allowance race by four lengths in October and was similarly dominant while producing a career-best performance here in the Thanksgiving Handicap, winning by more than two lengths, and trainer Al Stall said Yockey’s Warrior has turned in strong work in recent weeks. But Stall is less than thrilled with Yockey’s Warrior breaking from post 1 and is not pleased that his horse, under the Kenner conditions, carries eight pounds more than he did last out.

With 124 pounds, Yockey’s Warrior is giving six pounds to Holy Boss, who is cozily drawn in post 4 for the Kenner. Holy Boss failed to win in six starts last year and is on a nine-race losing streak since winning the Grade 2 Amsterdam two summers ago at Saratoga, but he held his own with top sprinting competition last season.

“He’s an outstanding horse. When you’re going three-quarters with Holy Boss, you’re usually in a good spot,” said trainer Asmussen.

Clearly Now has been stuck with the rail post in four of his last five starts but finally draws an outside gate, and he was a better-than-it-looks second in the Thanksgiving. Chief Istan has been working sharply for trainer Larry Jones and comes off a terrible trip in the Zia Sprint.

Honorable Duty improving

Trainer Wes Hawley on Wednesday bemoaned the several races last year in which Hawaakom, the talented, late-running gelding he trains, found himself in races lacking pace. Hawaakom’s 2017 campaign could start off the same way since there is little obvious speed in the $75,000 Louisiana Stakes.

Worse still for Hawaakom, one of his main rivals, Honorable Duty, at least possesses tactical pace and could get first run on Hawaakom. Honorable Duty won the Tenacious Stakes last month despite an unusual trip during which he led early, fell back during the middle stages, and surged again late to score by three-quarters of a length. That was Honorable Duty’s first start since being gelded, and trainer Brendan Walsh said the 5-year-old has continued to progress.

“Since we gelded him and got the blinkers off, he’s just getting better and better, calmer and calmer,” Walsh said. “It was always a mental thing with him. I think we still haven’t seen the best of him.”

Raagheb was beaten three-quarters of a length in the Tenacious but could regress after that career peak. Seeking the Soul has done all his best work in one-turn races. Dazzling Gem flopped as the 2-1 Tenacious favorite but is being given another stakes chance by trainer Brad Cox.