Churchill Downs: Molly Morgan switches back to the main track

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Racing on grass in an allowance at Keeneland Oct. 16, Molly Morgan seemed disadvantaged, having run third, fifth, and sixth in three prior turf starts. But she threatened, finishing second in a 12-horse field, four lengths behind the stakes-dropping favorite, Tabreed.

On dirt for Wednesday’s ninth race at Churchill Downs, a $45,000 second-level allowance with a $62,500 claiming option, expectations run higher.

Not only does she come off easily her finest turf race, but she has also scored two of her three main-track victories over the Churchill Downs surface. Her maiden score came at Churchill in June 2012, and an entry-level allowance followed four races later last November.

However, her wins at Churchill both came around one turn, with the maiden win at a mile and the allowance score at seven furlongs. Her only dirt start at 1 1/16 miles, the distance of the ninth race, resulted in a distant sixth-place finish, albeit against classier company, in the Locust Grove Stakes at Churchill on Sept. 7.

Judging by how well she ran at Keeneland last month going a longer distance of 1 1/8 miles on turf, she might now be up to the two-turn challenge.

Trainer Dale Romans trains Molly Morgan, a 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper, for owner Bill Cubbedge.

Jesus Castanon, who teamed with Romans to win the 2011 Preakness and 2012 Clark with Shackleford, has the mount. Entering Wednesday’s card, Castanon was winless from 29 mounts at the current meet.

Three-year-old fillies Plenty O’Toole and Elusive Fate are other contenders, moving to face easier foes after going unplaced in their last races in graded stakes. Plenty O’Toole ran fourth in a sloppy renewal of the Indiana Oaks on Oct. 5, while Elusive Fate was eighth in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland on Oct. 19 when racing on Polytrack.

Both are winners over the Churchill Downs main track, and Elusive Fate, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, is also graded stakes-placed over it, having finished third in the Grade 3 Dogwood on Sept. 21.

The toughest horse to evaluate in the 10-horse ninth race, but one who stands a chance with her best, is Our Domain, winner of the Bungalow Stakes for Illinois-breds on Sept. 10 at Fairmount Park. She has four wins and four seconds from 10 starts on dirt, with six of those races restricted to Illinois-bred runners.