Chiltern Street auditions for job as turf sprinter

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Friday could mark a turning point for Chiltern Street. The 4-year-old colt has competed in longer turf races for most of his career, but now trainer Wesley Ward is giving him a shot at five furlongs.

“Maybe I’ve been running him too far all this time,” Ward said. “He might just prefer one turn over two. If so, he could become something special. He’s a beautiful horse with tons of talent.”

Chiltern Street is the wild card in an interesting group that will convene Friday at Churchill Downs in the $63,000 feature, a second-level turf sprint with a $62,500 claiming option. An oversubscribed field is entered in the ninth of 10 races, with Stormofthecentury being the most accomplished in the group, with career earnings of nearly $560,000.

Chiltern Street has always been highly regarded by Ward. By the great Giant’s Causeway out of Grade 1 winner Marylebone, the colt won back-to-back races last winter, then narrowly missed knocking out his second allowance condition when beaten a nose in a one-mile turf race on Aug. 19 at Saratoga.

“That was a tough one,” Ward said.

Robby Albarado will be aboard Chiltern Street when they break from post 7.

One other allowance (race 6) is on tap Friday. It’s also scheduled for the turf, albeit around three turns at 1 3/8 miles, with an oversubscribed field of fillies and mares competing for a $60,000 purse under a first-level condition.

First post Friday is 1 p.m. Eastern. A stretch of warm weather here is expected to continue through Friday before much cooler temperatures take hold Saturday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Chiltern Street, by Giant’s Causeway

(Last 3 Beyers: 85-95-95)

◗ He’s been first or second in five of his nine starts.

◗ He was the beaten favorite in a recent one-mile turf allowance at Keeneland won by Bondurant, who returned to be a close second as the favorite here last week in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf.

Stormofthecentury, by Dark Kestrel

(Last 3 Beyers: 79-82-87)

◗ Winner of the Grade 3 Turf Monster at Parx Racing in 2013, this 8-year-old gelding is a bona fide sprint specialist who is 3 for 14 on turf.

Grand Candy, by Twirling Candy

(Last 3 Beyers: 87-81-88)

◗ His three-back victory at Kentucky Downs showed he can handle turf, and his last-out win at Churchill for a $100,000 claiming tag just 12 days ago kept him eligible for this two-other-than condition.

Shadow Rock, by Distorted Humor

(Last 3 Beyers: 78-83-89)

◗ The faster the early pace, the better the chances for this late-running sprinter, who has proven many times that he’s capable of being a factor when races melt down in his favor.