Churchill Downs: Closer Looks for May 9, 2014

Race 1

Another Blue

One of a number here that shows for a tag and any are eligible to run huge; at least she has the 3 races to draw from now; dam was unraced; lone half sis to race Wall Street Miss took 3 of 25, won routing, earned just under $50K; if she can run at all, she'll show it today.

Devilish Reason

Homebred at least flashed brief speed; stakes winning 8 for 34 dam banked over $300K, won 5 routes; all 3 siblings won including Bluegrass Rumor, who took 2 routes, banked $125K; needs a turn around.

Our Rockin Ruby

She lunged at the break and may not have adored the yielding course; 1 for 9 dam took a sprint; 3 of 4 siblings won including a route winner and $90K earner Ad Litem; look for her late if at all.

Cat With a Twist

Realistically placed as a $50K purchase; backers can point to the fact there is a double sprint winner in the family; in good hands and the local drills are just fine.

Pemaquid Pass

Homebred must be respected on the drop alone; show horse in last graduated next out at this level, then beat N1X foes at Tampa with a 77 Beyer; 2 for 6 dam banked about $70K, was route only; 3 of 5 sibs won including Fircroft, who took a stakes, was G1 placed, won routing twice, banked over $300K; expect better effort.

Mrs McGowan

Maybe connections had this race in mind all the time as the local debut was solid; Grade 1 winning sire earned over a million and was route only; dam was unraced; the 2 sibs to race are a combined 0 for 11; lean toward watching one. - Brian Mulligan

Race 3

Flashy Campaign

Blinkers go on and the past five years Amoss has a 21 percent strike rate with horses wearing them for the first time; expecting Leparoux to have her involved right from the start and speed certainly did well here on Derby day; horse that won her latest finished third in a minor stakes at Evangeline with a 64 Beyer April 11; this gal won't mind the shorter distance and if the track favors speed she should could take them a long way; contender.

Livi Makenzie

5-year-old seems to have lost a step this year and but she did hang around a lot longer in her latest and maybe she's just starting to come around; her two wins over Devious Intent last year, one over this track, were flattered when Devious Intent won the Grade 3 Gardenia at Ellis Park Aug. 10; she is obviously capable of winning this if she brings her best stuff but it is hard to support her off what she has done lately.

Hitechnoweenie

This will be her first start since she couldn't keep up to heavily favored Fiftyshadesofhay in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks last June; Hay came back to finish second in the Grade 1 Alabama; the layoff is an obvious concern and the past five years McPeek has a 10 percent strike rate with horses coming back in 300 days or more; she probably wants a bit more distance so we're just going to watch and see how she comes back.

Vuitton

Not sure what to make of her first start of the year as she never really got involved; it's possible she didn''t care for the surface at Gulfstream but other than her debut she earned the lowest Beyer Speed Figure in her career; strong numbers with horses making their second start back for Kenneally, though, and he should know her a little better now; we know she likes it here and if you're willing to toss her latest she looks like a major player.

Gold Medal Dancer

Toss her races in Grade 3's and she's never been worse than second; she also won her first two races sprinting so the cutback in distance shouldn't be an issue; horse that beat her the last time she was here has won four stakes since including the Grade 3 Sixty Sails at Hawthorne April 19; she could be sitting on a big effort in her third start this year and she'll appreciate the easier company after tiring in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare at Keeneland April 18; the pick. - Randy Goulding

Race 4

Ecosystem

Sire gets about 10% winners from his first out runners and this guy's unraced dam dropped 3 winners from 4 foals to race; works aren't much and the inside draw won't help a runner without some early foot; 4 year old debuts for an outfit that's been on a poor run with newcomers.

Kowboy Tuff

Drops in half in claiming price after earning a field best number from a wide spot in his Oaklawn finale; gelding faces a weak bunch here and though he wasn't that competitive in his first crack off this outfit's claim, anything close to the effort would make him tough to handle at this level; one to beat.

Explosive Ben

He's in for a tag for the initial time in his local debut after failing to offer much from the fence in his first start of the season; gelding did earn a handful of minor awards at Fairmount last summer but he wasn't facing much in those heats and the races came back slow on the figure scale; maybe for a share.

Snaggedem

Tries a softer bunch after showing little from the fence in his Keeneland route debut; barn does boast a recent big priced second out winner as well as some luck with turn backs, but there's not a lot of pedigree to suggest this guy will go much better sprinting; have to pass on him.

Baumgartner

Makes his first start under the care of a barn that excels with its newly acquired runners; gelding gets a top pilot for his first local start while returning from 7 months on the shelf and while far from consistent, he did earn some numbers in Florida last year that fit in here; worth considering.

Tyler T

He's lost 18 times but has earned a handful of minor awards including most recently when rallying well too late following a poor break; he's capable of sitting closer to the top early if he gets off to a better beginning and a solid journeyman pilot will get aboard for the gelding's local return; he's had his share of chances, but he looks to be the main danger.

Bull Gato

Gets back in with older runners after another weak try routing in Louisiana; gelding's sprint debut effort was weak and the barn hasn't had much recent success on the turn back; tough to make much of a case for him off what he's done thus far.

Code Blue Zone

Sire didn't win with his lone starter but the dam did win her career debut on her way to 4 total scores which all came sprinting and this gray is her first foal to race; outside draw should help keep him out of trouble, but he's been working short of late and don't know if that will have him tight enough to tackle this trip. - Steve Grabowski

Race 5

Ready Express

Projects as lone speed; raced 1st at the 1st call in 8 of 17 races with 1 win on the lead; from 18 CD races at 6F on dirt from April 26-May 3 only 5 winners raced 1st at the 1st call; posted the field's-best Beyer speed figure at 1F shorter than today's event on a CD-sloppy track; a wet track moves her up; the winner from last Beyered 79 in a next-out OP-starter allowance win; the 2-back winner and runner-up Beyered 91-88 in next-out OP-100K-stakes and alw. wins.

Love My Life

Favored-OP winner took awhile to beat a non-winners of 2 field now gets N3Ls following a best-last-race Beyer performance; from April 26-May 3 last-out OP winners yielded 15 victories at the current meet 2nd only to last-out KEE winners (18); the trainer began the CD meet sizzling while she figures to work out a winning-stalking trip behind Ready Express while saving ground; the pick.

Greek Life

68 days since being outfinished at FG when a handful trying to load into the gate which may have taken the race out of her; she's had gate issues from time to time so hoping during the time off she's resolved the gate woes; have mixed reviews from her other fresh starts; last-out FG runners have 10 wins at the current CD meet while she has not fared well in 3 previous attempts locally.

Brotherhood Singer

Poor-gate break then finished last in a key race with a career-low speed figure; the runner-up and 5th-place finishers from last Beyered 80-73 in next-out CD-optional claiming and KEE-25K-claiming wins; since the CD opening April 26 no last-out ELP runners have won; will be taking a wait and see approach.

Trick My Ride

Exits a career-best Beyer in her 1st synthetic-surface start and 1st-time Stew Elliott riding a last-to-1st rally; off-the-pace runners had the edge in 2014-CD-6F dirt races; fast-track seems needed to turn the tables on Love My Life who easily handled her in the mud 2 back; did not show much during the fall-CD season which is the main issue.

St. Louie Slew

The trainer's CD win this meet occurred with a similar-fresh runner; this one has been absent since claimed off a CD-Mile loss noting the cutback in distance benefits with both wins at 6F; the 2-back runner-up finisher Beyered 76 in a next-out CD-30K-claiming win; her best Beyer was on a synthetic surface; her-last CD dirt start was one of the lowest speed figures of her career. - Art Gropper

Race 6

Lost Kodiak

Best a.m. breeze was back on 4/11; his sire won G1 sprints and 1.66 million overall; offspring of Kodiak Kowboy have scored in 4 of 38 debuts; the dam went zero for 8; among the winning siblings is 44K earner Nacho Early.

Indygo by You

Did not have a clean trip first time out yet still managed to capture the show; his sire won a G3 and 444K while the dam was without a tally in 6 tries; winning sibs include 152K earner Tara From the Cape.

To Be Determined

She begins her career against the boys and gets a weight concession as a result; her sire won multiple G3s and 413K; progeny of Elusive Quality have scored in 95 out of 626 initial starts; the dam was zero for 6; there are no winning sibs to mention.

Cinco Charlie

Very fine blowout turned in only 3 days ago; his sire won a G1 and 616K (descendants of Indian Charlie have won 105 out of 650 initial races); the mom won 2 of 13 and 92K; winning sibs include 44K earner Pedro Del Valle.

Chasing Mavericks

This grey was sired by 479K earner Exchange Rate who netted 479K and whose descendants are 63 for 441 as far as winning their first test; the dam did not compete; among the winning sibs is 45K earner Brian the Brave.

Stonebriar

Progeny of Two Punch, who won 4 of 8 starts and 89K have scored in 105 out of 902 debuts; the dam was unraced; among the winning siblings is 137K earner I Stand Alone; local breezes are fairly good.

Far Right

Despite losing plenty of energy prior to the start of his first run, he turned in a solid placing; his sire won a G2 and 733K while the dam did not race; there are no winning siblings to mention; worth some serious follow-up here.

Sarlef

A steady set of half-mile workouts to consider; his sire won 4 of 6 and 148K (progeny of Flatter have won approximately 10 percent of their first attempts); the dam never made it to the races and this is her sole foal to start. - Jim Kachulis

Race 8

Luv From Abuv

She ran well sprinting over turf in her career debut against maiden claimers, but it would have been nice to have seen her show more in her latest outing when stretched out in distance against maiden special weight competition; Pedroza has won with 6 of 22 (27%) mounts for this barn in 2014.

Code Name Ava

Like what she did in her two starts as a 2-year-old and she might have needed her most recent race after taking the winter off; feel there's still potential for better living here and she's a 1/2 to stakes placed Safe Crossing (5-13, 187k, including 4 of 12 turf starts for 165k).

Slews Golden Rule

It's tough to look in her direction based on what she's shown so far, but this filly is a 1/2 to G3 winner Globetrotter (3-6, 295k, including 1 of 3 turf starts for 104k) and stakes winner Slew's Exchange (5-12, 188k, including 4 of 10 turf starts for 166k).

Morning Star

She earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure while making her first start for this barn in her latest outing and she has some early speed to employ as she gets ready to make her first start routing over turf; viewing this as being a favorable spot for her to land in.

Brown's Baby

Sire wins with approximately 12% of his first-time starters and with approximately 13% of his turf starters, and this is the first foal from a dam who won once from four starts for 11k, and she didn't make a turf start; a two-turn mile can be tough on a firster, but some of her workouts hint at ability.

Justanewkidintown

Like the idea of giving this daughter of Lemon Drop Kid another chance to see what she can do racing over turf, and she did take a step in the right direction at second asking over the synthetic surface at Keeneland; this is a barn and rider that win a lot of races together.

Power Walk

Sire wins with approximately 11% of his turf starters and this is the first foal from an unraced dam; maybe the move to turf and stretchout in distance can help, but her career debut was so-so at best.

La Bruna Forte

She's proven to be a tough one to keep out of the mix through her first six starts, and she looks like she can prove to be a player in this spot regardless of the surface that this race is run over; must consider.

Queen Daenerys

This filly has a good deal of quality to her pedigree, and with only three starts behind her, the possibility of her having more to show us exists; 190k purchase is worth keeping an eye out for in the event that she draws in.

State Visit

She earned her best Beyer Speed Figure to date while making her first start after a layoff in her latest outing and the winner of that race returned to win next out here on 5/2 going 7f vs. 75k OPC's with an 86 Beyer; she'll boast the best last race Beyer if she gets to go in this spot. - Brian Pochman

Race 9

Midnight Sweetie

Gives the level another shot while returning to a venue at which he didn't do much back in the fall; maybe another inside draw helps her get more involved from the fence for an outfit that hits at a decent clip second back from the break, but she looks best used underneath in exotics.

Grit and Grace

Last out runner up makes her first local start since breaking her maiden at the trip in the fall; gray's most recent spin earned a career best tying Beyer and she should at least get an honest clip to run at; picks up weight, but is one to consider.

Unbridled Wee

Switches surfaces for his local debut under the care of an outfit that's been on a pretty weak run with this type; filly does get a solid rider switch for this but she wasn't very good on the Oaklawn dirt earlier in the year and note that her lone win came over synthetic footing; have to look elsewhere.

She's Got Swag

Last out maiden breaker tries winners for the first time in this spot; 4 year old showed solid early foot on the stretchout in that one and maybe she's again able to clear them here; if she does get free she's still got some moving forward to do on the figure scale; one to catch.

Let It Snow

Caught slop first out here in the fall and rode it all the way to a popular front end score; gray's initial stretchout try was weak and though she's been given some time since the effort, this outfit doesn't do so well with its fresh runners; maybe the hood helps settle her, but she will be stepping in with older gals here.

Marathon Lady

Multiple G1 SP router makes her first start of the year for a barn that hasn't done so well with its absentees first time back; filly stayed close to some good ones last year, earning solid numbers along the way and her return worktab is pretty steady of late; she's had her share of chances, but her best probably makes her tought to hold off at a short price.

Southern Jewel

Outside drawn filly didn't have an impact late when trying winners for the first time at Oaklawn early last month; she found a way to break her maiden in her first start in nearly 11 months, 2 starts back, and she has worked ok since that last one; gets yet another new pilot here. - Steve Grabowski

Race 10

Olympic Thunder (BRZ)

He ran well in his first start back from a layoff in his latest outing, and if he's ready to step up with the type of performance that nearly earned him a G3 win back in September, he can make some noise in this spot.

King David

He's a Grade 1 winner racing over turf, and even though he might not have another G1 win in his future, he still appears to be plenty capable of producing a competitive performance at this level of competition; like to see that he's had some success over this turf course from a few starts.

Evan's Calling

Maybe there's something to be said for this being his first turf start since moving into this barn, but this gelding has not been at his best in his in his 10 turf starts prior to this, and this has to be considered a tough spot for him to be trying turf again; willing to upgrade his chances if this race has to be moved to the main track.

Kalamos

He's stakes placed racing in France and he hasn't run a bad race since arriving in America, and his two most recent races have been very sharp; going to look for him to be ready to run a good one while making his second start back from a layoff.

Strike One

His complete lack of early speed is always a concern, but he ran well over turf at Gulfstream Park just two starts back, and perhaps he needed his most recent race after a layoff; leaning toward others, but not willing to count him out of the mix entirely.

Ol Army

He's capable of showing up with an effort that is good enough to make him a threat in this spot, but he might have to be careful to avoid an early pace dispute with horses like Evan's Calling and Grand Arch; he has at least mild appeal with Elliott taking over.

Grand Arch

From 12 career starts, he hasn't finished worse than third, and 11 of his starts have been over turf; multiple graded stakes placed gelding has run well over this turf course before and feel that he's eligible to be ready to give a good account of himself in his second start of 2014.

Marine Patrol

Although he was disqualified from his career debut, four of his seven starts have been sharp winning performances, and he shares the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in here with Evan's Calling; note that Bridgmohan is three-for-three aboard this colt.

Villandry

He's yet another in here who is making his second start back from a layoff, and if he feels up to one of his better performances, he's perfectly capable of putting in a serious bid for the top prize; his career best Beyer Speed Figure was earned in a winning performance over this turf course.

Stephanoatsee

Half-brother to multiple G1 winner Shackleford (6-20, $3 million) has a stakes win to his credit, and even though this race doesn't figure to come up soft if it has to be moved to the main track, he'll command plenty of respect; runner up from latest won next out at DeD on 3/15 going 1m in a 75k stakes with a 92 Beyer.

Pick of the Litter

Grade 3 stakes placed colt has some solid dirt form on his card to consider, but he will need to step it up over what he's shown in his three starts this year in order to threaten the top contenders in this one.

The Best Glacier

6-year-old has 10 wins next to his name and he appears to be going as well as ever since moving into this barn after a 32k claim last October; there is a layoff in play, but this stakes winning veteran shows up for an outfit that can have one ready to fire fresh, and Leparoux gets the call.- Brian Pochman