Churchill Downs: Almost Famous a heavy favorite in Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With four maidens in the field and only two horses that have won so much as a first-level allowance race, surely the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes could have come up tougher.

“They can always come up tougher,” said trainer Pat Byrne, who will saddle the 6-5 morning-line favorite, Almost Famous, for the $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club on Saturday, closing day of the 25-day fall meet at Churchill Downs. “But we’re fine with how it shapes up for us.”

Of course he is. Byrne and owners Chuck and Maribeth Sandford would like nothing more than to see Almost Famous earn 10 eligibility points toward the Kentucky Derby next May and spend the winter in Florida with some flexibility to their planning. With an eye-catching six-length victory in an allowance prep here on Nov. 9, Almost Famous clearly is the most accomplished among the 10 colts in this 87th running of the Kentucky Jockey Club.

“We all know how every one of these races for 2-year-olds has a big learning curve,” Byrne said. “We’re very happy with our colt. He’s sharp and he’s actually put on a little weight since that last race, which is always a good sign. We’re looking forward to Saturday and then moving on to Palm Meadows [training center in Florida].”

Almost Famous, a son of Unbridled’s Song and with Corey Lanerie to ride, should have no excuses when breaking from the rail in the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club, which will be run under the lights as the 11th of 12 Saturday races. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern, with the Kentucky Jockey Club going off at 5:35 after sundown.

The only other Kentucky Jockey Club starter with an allowance win is Laddie Boy, but his victory came as something of a surprise last month over the Polytrack at Keeneland and equated to a Beyer Speed Figure of just 67. Accordingly, he probably will be one of the longer prices in the field, with even a couple of maidens, Notability and Tapiture, winding up shorter on the tote.

Notability was a close second behind his Dale Romans stablemate Culprit when making his career debut on opening day of the meet, Oct. 27. Both colts will be stretching out from a one-turn mile.

“We’ve got big hopes for both of them,” Romans said.

The Kentucky Jockey Club is scheduled to be run one hour after its sister race, the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes (race 9), on a Stars of Tomorrow program exclusively for 2-year-olds. Two of the other 10 races are allowances, and the remaining eight are maiden special weight events. HRTV will have full-day coverage.

Live action on the Kentucky circuit moves Sunday to Florence, Ky., where four months of winter racing begins at Turfway Park.

◗ The first of four Future Wager pools toward the 2014 Derby will close Saturday at post time for the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, which is set for 3:49 p.m. Eastern. Through the first day (Wednesday), and with nearly $69,000 wagered, the No. 24 “all others” option was the even-money favorite.

◗ Wise Dan, the 2012 Horse of the Year and the heavy favorite for that same honor this year, will be paraded in the Churchill paddock after the third race Saturday, at about 1:40 p.m.