Churchill Downs: Hard to identify favorite in turf feature

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The noticeable dearth of grass racing at Churchill Downs at the new September meet is due not only to the abundant opportunities at turf-only Kentucky Downs this month, but also to preserve the turf course during what is typically a dry season.

There are exceptions to that rule, however, and one of them is presented Sunday at Churchill as the nominal feature of a 10-race program. An oversubscribed field of fillies and mares will clash under a first-level allowance condition in the ninth race, the only grass race of the day.

There is no clear-cut choice in the $39,000 race at 1 1/16 miles, as a handful of logical contenders figure to vie for favoritism. Too Cool, Naples Gold, and Princess Mariah are among that core group, while several others will also receive strong consideration.

First post Sunday is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 4:55.

Other Sunday races of interest include a filly-and-mare starter allowance (race 3) and two maiden special-weight events (races 4 and 7).

After Sunday, Churchill goes dark for four days before the next three-day week resumes Friday with a 2:45 first post.

Race 9

KEY CONTENDERS

Too Cool (Last 3 Beyers: 76-75-78)

◗ Michelle Lovell has done solid work with this 3-year-old filly since assuming her training, with a win over the Churchill turf, a second in an allowance, and a fourth in a division of the Hatoof on the Arlington Million undercard.

◗ Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan had a decent if not spectacular summer at Saratoga by winning seven races, second only among Churchill regulars to Rosie Napravnik (18).

Naples Gold (Last 3 Beyers: 84-51-75)

◗ Huge 12th-to-first move on closing day of the spring meet was just a tad mistimed, as this filly wound up narrowly beaten in what was an overall terrific effort. She’s fresh, and two recent breezes toward this comeback from trainer Ben Colebrook could have her on her toes.

◗ Colebrook, a longtime assistant to Christophe Clement before going out on his own last year, normally is based at Keeneland, but like others in the same position, he had to move his stable to Churchill this summer while Keeneland replaced its Polytrack surface with dirt.

Princess Mariah (Last 3 Beyers: 65-72-84)

◗ Her first two attempts at the Churchill spring meet clearly would make her a major threat here, but the obvious question is whether she can return to that form after being rather dull in the closing-day race and in one interim start at Indiana Grand.

Notte d’Oro (Last 3 Beyers: 62-71-45)

◗ There isn’t a ton of speed in here, and given how she’s probably eager to get going off the lengthy layoff, she could loom a presence on the front end. Trainer Mike Stidham shows excellent percentages in the relevant categories.