Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs: Closer Looks for May 18, 2014
Race 1
| Acts Like Gold |
| Did not race in all of last year but the returning workout pattern during the last month or so is steady; entered for the lowest price tag of his career today, he can be a forward factor; ran well in his sole try over the course. |
| Kiawah's Warrior |
| He showed definite improvement, pace-wise, when dropping into a claimer last month; his sire won a G2 stakes and 424K while the dam went 3 for 17 earning 147K; this is her only foal to compete; should be on or near a soft pace this afternoon. |
| Fronkonsteen |
| Newcomer hails from multiple G3 winner Bernstein who captured 424K and whose offspring have won 11 percent of their debuts; the dam won 2 of 8 and 32K; among the winning sibs is 137K earner Line Change. |
| Foretold |
| Light work tab for this belated debut; his sire won multiple G1s and 1.96 million; progeny of Aptitude have scored in 15 out of 351 initial starts; the dam went zero for 4; among the winning siblings is 170K earner Wild Pantera. |
| Duke of Viseu |
| Firster was sired by multiple G1 star Henrythenavigator who captured 2.76 million and whose descendants are 6 for 53 as far as winning their first test; the dam was zero for 7; sib to 621K earner Teuflesberg. |
| Gridlock |
| Quit early when breaking from the one-hole in the last pair and now he can show much more spirit at this reduced level; breeze pattern of late is only moderate yet he can be involved from the opening bell against this soft caliber. - Jim Kachulis |
Race 2
| Big Town |
| His best asset is his gate speed; projects to take this paceless group for as long as he can up top; June's CD dirt win at today's distance represents a field-best Beyer speed figure but is 6-0-0-2 since then and his OP pre-rest form was far off his best; won 3rd off the layoff previously so will be taking a wait and see approach for this. |
| Conspiracy |
| Was claimed off his lowest speed figure since October when defeating the 8th and 9th-place finishers from last; they Beyered 88-73 in next-out IND-optional claiming and KEE-16K-claiming wins; 2013-CD fresh race was far off his form when fading at longer so may need a race; hopes to save ground stalking Big Town then get 1st run on the closers. |
| One King's Man |
| 29%-winning fresh trainer suggests he wil be ready to fire his best off the 10-week rest; exits a best-last-race Beyer when just missing on a wet track which is the surface he seems best on; this would be start 1 at CD; through May 11 at the current CD meet only one last-out DED was victorious; may be last of the 5 from the gate but has a huge late kick |
| Grip Hands |
| 0-for-5 dirt runner who is 4-for-8 on synthetic surfaces; Stay Put handled him 1st off the claim in this spot spot when fading; projects to chase Big Town from the gate then hopes to find the missing stamina; would be a shocker. |
| Stay Put |
| Was no match for the top pair but latest likely served as an excellent prep race for this making his 2nd start since the 58-day absence; the 1-for-10 CD dirt record has 6 minor awards so he's raced very well locally in defeat; the 3-back runner-up finisher Beyered 97 in a next-out IND-OPC win; one year ago lost a CD win photo to Big Town as both runners try to recapture that form here today. - Art Gropper |
Race 3
| Street Shark |
| Sire wins with approximately 15% of his turf starters and dam was unraced; he has some turf in his pedigree and his recent form has been improved, but he will need to step up his game in order to be a player in his turf debut. |
| Dream Man |
| Courtlandt Farms-homebred needs to some some early pace to have his best chance in here, but he's capable of producing a competitive performance at this level of competition, and his career best Beyer Speed Figure was earned in his one start over this turf course. |
| Greengrassofyoming |
| He's been in good form lately and he's another in here who is capable of packing a pretty strong stretch punch on his best day; that said, this has a chance to prove to be a tough spot for him to try to make it three straight wins. |
| Morgan's Guerrilla |
| Sire wins with approximately 14% of his turf starters and G3 stakes placed dam won 3 of 10 starts for 108k, including 1 of 5 turf starts for 63k; multiple graded stakes placed 5-year-old is a 1/2 to A Brilliant Idea (1-14, 90k, including 1 of 12 turf starts for 82k); Napravnik has won with 20 of 84 (24%) mounts for this barn in 2014. |
| Bim Bam |
| He carries multiple stakes winning credentials with him and he put together a solid performance in his most recent start while making his first start back from a layoff; he's light on recent winning form, but he's capable of getting himself into the mix against these. |
| Ration |
| This has to be considered a tough step up in class for him after being claimed for 30k from his latest race, and he didn't make much of an impression in his one start over turf prior to this; prefer to look toward others. |
| Big Blue Spirit (GB) |
| He beat today's rival Bim Bam in his latest start and that performance was on par with his previous best effort; if Morgan's Guerrilla handles the transition to turf smoothly, it might leave only minor awards to battle over, but this 5-year-old deserves to be listed among the contenders. |
| Flashy Sunrise |
| If this race has to be moved to the main track, Morgan's Guerilla will be the one to deny, but this veteran will command his share of respect based on solid overall dirt form; winner from latest won next out at CD on 5/2 going 1 1/16m in a G2 with a 100 Beyer. |
| The Best Glacier |
| He's gotten really good since being claimed by these connections for 32k and he's made it look very easy while recording open lengths victories in his three most recent races; Napravnik has won with 16 of 41 (39%) mounts for this barn in 2014. - Brian Pochman |
Race 5
| You Make Luvin Fun |
| Sire wins with approximately 14% of his turf starters and dam won once from six starts for 16k, including 1 of 3 turf starts for 13k; maybe the move to turf can help, but she's tough to endorse based on what she's shown in her first two starts. |
| Ms Arch Stanton |
| Sire wins with approximately 14% of his turf starters and this is the first foal from an unraced dam; 65k purchase can benefit from having a race behind her and her connections waste little time in getting her over turf. |
| Malhama |
| Sire wins with approximately 11% of his turf starters and dam was unraced; this barn has done some of their better work with turf starters over the years, and this 500k purchase gets Lasix for her turf debut. |
| Sylvan Light |
| She's been on top of her game lately, and her best effort can get her into the mix against these, but it's tough to place confidence in her for the top spot when it looks like she might be planning on hanging around the maiden ranks for a while. |
| Sedona Gal |
| Pioneerof the Nile is off to a good start as a turf sire, and if this filly performs the way that she did two starts back over the Santa Anita turf course, she can find her way into the mix against these. |
| Peneleput |
| Sire wins with approximately 13% of his turf starters and stakes winning dam won 4 of 6 starts for 115k, and she didn't make a start over turf; this miss is a 1/2 to Clifton Bay (2-4, 69k over turf); this barn has been getting the job done with turf starters and they see fit to call upon Leparoux for this. |
| Cause to Celebrate |
| She has some pedigree appeal but she's obviously going to need to produce a much stronger performance if she's planning on getting over on the top contenders in this spot; prefer to give the nod to others in this one. |
| More Tales |
| Sire wins with approximately 6% of his first-time starters and he's 0-for-3 with his turf starters, and dam was winless from four starts, and she didn't make a turf start; looking at this as being a tough spot for this firster to land in. |
| Penurious |
| Can't ignore the long layoff that is in play, but this lightly raced 5-year-old has some turf in her pedigree and she did flash some ability in her first two career starts, both over turf; not willing to count her out of it, but it might be best to just watch her today to try to get a feel for what she might be capable of going forward. |
| One Hot Romance |
| She hasn't finished better than seventh or within 11 lengths of the winner in her first four starts, and it's just difficult to try to build a favorable case in her direction off of those performances. |
| The Royal Way |
| Sire wins with approximately 4% of his first-time starters and he's 0-for-25 with his turf starters, and dam was winless from two starts, and both of her starts were over turf; she attracts the services of the hot-riding Borel for her career debut. |
| She's Not Here |
| Sire wins with approximately 15% of his turf starters and minor stakes winning dam won 5 of 21 starts for 116k, including 5 of 19 turf starts for 115k; she showed a little something in her first two career starts and like the idea of giving her a chance to see what she can do racing over turf. - Brian Pochman |
Race 7
| Daddy's Memory |
| Returns from 3 months on the shelf while moving back to the venue at which she impressively broke her maiden in the slop on Halloween; filly has early foot and she's been working like she's ready to return running, but she's really tailed off since changing barn's off that score; maybe wet footing would help, but given the barn's recent numbers first off the break this gal may just need one. |
| Hero Wisdom |
| Goes second back from the break in her return to the scene of her first out score; on her best she poses a decent late kick so the added panel can help and she did breeze well over the track earlier in the month; if some of these bring their best she's likely fighting for a minor share. |
| Not Again Nancye |
| Hood goes on for her first start of the year for an outfit that doesn't start too many; she was little short of terrible at the level here in the fall and she boasts just 2 recent breezes for her return to the races; tough to make much of a case for this longshot. |
| Sweet Shirley Mae |
| Found herself close to the top at Keeneland last time and didn't have enough late to threaten but her prior effort from off the pace at a shorter trip at Gulfstream was pretty good; filly has taken steps backwards since sharp efforts in stakes company as a juvenile and remains winless since her debut score; prefer to limit her use to underneath in exotics. |
| Wicked Draw |
| Returns from 10 months on the shelf to try winners for the first time for this new outfit; filly will get Lasix and she has been working ok on synthetic footing for the comebacker but her lone dirt try came first time out and it wasn't very good; nice to see Rosie take interest. |
| Keening |
| Four year old was right there in the place photo behind the open lengths winner in her first start of the season at this trip and level and has a right to be better with the effort behind her; filly was pretty good here last year and this outfit does move them up second time back from the break; contender from close range. |
| Avicii |
| Slow start did her in while making her local return at this trip earlier in the month but she still ran on pretty well to get third money; she broke her maiden over the course back in the fall and maybe a better beginning will make the difference here, but she's going to need to take a step forward to have a say in this spot. |
| Assured |
| She's only run 4 times and this will be just her second start since last summer in Saratoga; 9 panels again proved too far for her liking in the comebacker and she figures to be fit for the turn back for an outfit that excels with runners second back from the break; a top pilot gets aboard a filly whose last one turn try resulted in a powerful maiden score; one to beat. - Steve Grabowski |
Race 8
| Delta Golf Alpha |
| Flashed gate speed in latest when dropped into a maiden claimer for the 1st time in a loss to Northeast Bound; he follows that one back up the class ladder into MSW company again; projects to be part of the lead here in a paceless event. |
| Kilo |
| Sire is 8-for-52 with 1st-turf starters; is out of a 3-for-12 stakes-winning grass dam (104K) who's only other foal to race is 4-0-0-0 turfer Johar Beauty (1K); trainer has solid win marks with 2nd-time starters and sprint-to-routers; wish he showed more in his unveiling where troubled from the gate then outrun throughout. |
| Stonecrusher |
| Began career with 2 strong grass races but hasn't been on the lawn since last summer; recent-dull OP dirt form prompts the surface switch; the 3-back winner Beyered 79 in a next-out OP-optional-claiming win; both exacta finishes were when sitting back early then making one run. |
| Dynamic Decision |
| Debut-near miss finish represents the field's best Beyer speed figure and a dangerous rival if moves forward as most 2nd-time starters do; was screaming out for more yaradge in his unveiling and gets it here for a 21%-winning maiden-2nd start trainer; the pick. |
| Tectum |
| Debut race was his best-career start traveling on less-than-firm footing when defeated by the runner-up finisher who posted 86-74 speed figures in 2 next-out wins including a 75K stakes; has not given the impression that 1 Mile and an eighth is within his scope; the 2-back winner repeated in an LAD alw. with an 81 Beyer. |
| Bird Tap |
| Sire of the Kentucky Oaks winner should provide some stamina but the dam's lone win was at 6.5F; best race of career was easily the turf loss but has to fix the gate issues; in each of his 3 losses he did not get out of the gate well. |
| Arch Pearl |
| Just missed last summer in an Ireland turf event; was primed for this on KEE synthetic where he broke poorly then was bumped but still rallied well enough to earn the show money with a lot of upside for this; best asset is stamina; he's already started past 9F while some of these have never been this far; seems the one to beat. |
| De Facto |
| Sire is 108-for-799 with 1st-turf starters; 88-for-881 with debut runners; is out of a 4-for-10 dam (150K) who finished 2nd in her only grass start; she produced 3 winners from 6 other foals to race; 5 foals to race on turf are 0-for-6 combined. |
| Lexingtonian |
| Sire is 35-for-342 with 1st-turf starters; is the 1st foal out of a 1-for-8 grass dam (24K); the winner and runner-up finisher from last Beyered 89-78 in next-out OP allowance and MSW wins; dull pre-rest form leads me to back others. |
| Joyful Moments |
| In a hot-CD barn; was screaming out for more distance in last and gets it here; owns a decining-Beyer pattern as his best race was his 1st on fast dirt; he would not mind this moved to a dry-main track; we keep expecting better. |
| Cov |
| Could not beat debut runner Dynamic Decision in latest now has to deal with that one with race experience under his bet; the trainer won a race here Thursday to snap an 0-for-20 to start the CD meet; the 2-back show finisher Beyered 88 in a next-out CD-MSW win. |
| Archway to Heaven |
| Gets the hottest-CD rider butshe is the 5th different jockey in as many races which is not a good-win angle; was outfinished at shorter in last but the wet turf produced his best Beyer ever; beat Cov in last as the show finisher Beyered 88 in his next-out CD-MSW win. |
| One Touch |
| Through May 11 at the current CD meet last-out TAM winners won 3 races; his near-miss finish from last looks better since the show runner Beyered 65 in his next-out TAM-MSW win; off latest hopes not to bounce racing back in 39 days after producing his best Beyer with 7 weeks between races. |
| Shaun's Blessing |
| Sire is 4-for-44 with 1st-turf starters; 28-for-122 with debut runners; is out of an 8-0-0-1 dam (4K) who went 4-0-0-1 on turf (3K) producing 5 winners from 5 other foals to race; 1 of 3 foals to race on turf is a grass winner (1-for-10 Zodiac Girl 33K). |
| Shutter Speed |
| Sire is 1-for-29 with 1st-turf starters; 1-0-0-1 dam (5K) did not race on grass; her only other foal to race Next Speaker won 3-of-12 (89K) including 2-for-6 on turf (51K); the winner, 4th and 7th-place finishers from last Beyered 77-63-57 in next-out LAD alw., LS-25K-maiden claiming and PRM-MSW wins. |
| Northeast Bound |
| The main issue he's lost 3 times with lesser-maiden claiming company during career; steps up for this with a ground-losing trip looming after posting his 1st-ever exacta finish after saving ground from post 2; today's distance seems right up his alley but has some obstacles to overcome. - Art Gropper |
Race 9
| R Peace of Mind |
| Raced in routes for most of his career and could only manage minor rallies, and minor spoils, thus far; reverts to the original rider but the returning breeze pattern is modest; will have to get into gear at an earlier point in the running today. |
| Spring Action |
| Beginner shows some upbeat workouts of late; his sire won a G1 and 1.13 million (offspring of Spring At Last have scored in 12 out of 83 debuts); the dam won 4 of 34 and 189K; among the winning siblings is 109K earner Mankato Strike. |
| L. A. Freeway |
| Even efforts in the last 3 and, just on pace cross-reference, he should be on or near the lead today with an alert break; blinker addition earlier this month seemed to help him focus; very legitimate contender despite the added furlong. |
| One More Night |
| Fought for the lead until the midway point when negotiating this distance a month ago; ran a solid race in his only local attempt and might have been best that day if not for drifting; steady maintenance breezes this month and class relief to consider. |
| Enlisted Man |
| Improved at Keeneland with a very respectable third despite much traffic trouble; seems a natural for today's trip if he can avoid similar woes; note his maiden voyage over the course last June, a race which included graded stakes performer Ride On Curlin. |
| Playball Tony |
| Nowhere in that first run around 2 turns when claimed; up a notch today, he may be more comfortable in this sprint setting; his sire won a G2 and 479K; the dam went 2 for 11 earning 36K; sib to 124K earner Magnet Cove. |
| County Corrections |
| Twice a disappointment at identical short odds; his sire won a G2 and 254K while the dam was unraced; among the winning siblings is 37K earner Jor Jah; can rebound from this favorable stalking post (note important trouble line in last venture). |
| Keep It Together |
| He tries claimers for the first time after showing some firepower at Mountaineer; began his career at this track and was burdened with an extra-wide trip that day; most recent breeze was respectable yet he should offer a square price on the board today. - Jim Kachulis |