Chief Cicatriz fit and ready for Aristides

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Shawn Davis has attended the Kentucky Derby nearly every year since 1983, but it was only four weeks ago that the self-described professional cowboy saddled his first horse under the twin spires.

Chief Cicatriz ran a creditable fifth in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs on the May 5 Derby undercard, but Davis partly blames himself for the 5-year-old gelding not doing even better.

“I wish he was as fit on Derby Day as he is today,” said Davis.

Chief Cicatriz, with two subsequent works under him, will get a second chance Saturday night at Churchill as a major contender in the Grade 3, $100,000 Aristides, the highlight of an 11-race Downs After Dark card. First post is 6 p.m. Eastern, with the Aristides going at 10:42 as the 10th race.

Davis, 77, has been training Thoroughbreds since 1991 while more heavily involved in the rodeo business. He was a three-time national champion saddle bronc rider in the 1960s, earning him induction into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979, and he was the longtime general manager of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

“I’ve been friends with Carl Nafzger forever,” said Davis, referring to the Hall of Fame trainer who has roots in rodeo. “He went into Thoroughbreds while I stayed with the rodeo. I’ve been at the Derby with him quite a few times over the years.”

Chief Cicatriz, with James Graham to ride, will break from the outside post in a field of seven older horses in the 30th Aristides, which will be run at six furlongs under the lights. As a four-time stakes winner from 10 career starts, “he’s the best horse I’ve ever had,” said Davis.

“Hopefully he’ll run one of his best races Saturday,” he said. “We’re quite excited about him.”

The chief opposition for Chief Cicatriz include Mr. Crow (post 5, Corey Lanerie) and Wilbo (post 3, David Cabrera), while Smart Spree (post 1, Ricardo Santana Jr.) and Awesome Saturday (post 6, Brian Hernandez Jr.) also figure in the mix with their best.

Mr. Crow won an allowance here Derby week in his first start in six months and his first for trainer Ben Colebrook, who said before that victory the 4-year-old colt likely needed the race.

“This race has always been the goal,” said Colebrook, who won the Aristides last year with Limousine Liberal. “He’s trained well since his last race. I think he is ready for a big effort.”

As late as it is, the Aristides will be followed some 30 minutes later by the $75,000 Mighty Beau (race 11, 11:10), which is scheduled for five furlongs on the turf. Hogy, who was scratched two Saturdays ago from the Jim McKay at Pimlico when the race was moved to a sloppy main track, will be favored to add to his remarkable record of 19 wins and 13 seconds from 51 career starts. Trainer Mike Maker considered out-of-town races before settling on the Mighty Beau.

Hogy and Long On Value, another proven entity in this niche, both will be looking to rally from off the pace.

“He’s doing as well as he could be,” said Brad Cox, who assumed the training of Long On Value after the horse was purchased in November at Keeneland. “He’s set up for a big race.”

Morticia, the lone filly in a field of 10, was supplemented to the race but is cross-entered at Penn National and is expected to run there in the Penn Ladies Dash.

This is the 46th Downs After Dark card at Churchill, where lights were first used in June 2009. The final night card at the 38-day spring meet is set for June 16, when the Grade 1 Stephen Foster will be one of five stakes. General admission on Saturday nights is $10.