Churchill Downs: Ravi's Song proven on dirt

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Turf-to-dirt might have become something of an overlooked handicapping angle since the synthetic era got under way a few years ago, but Thanksgiving Day racing fans at Churchill Downs might be reminded of its relevance when the Falls City Handicap is run Thursday.

Ravi’s Song, who will be ridden by the red-hot Corey Lanerie, will be switching back to the main track after three straight solid efforts on turf when she breaks from the far outside post as one of the top contenders in a field of 10 fillies and mares entered in the Grade 2, $175,000 Falls City.

Trained by Carl Bowman, 5-year-old Ravi’s Song already has won 3 dirt stakes from her 16 career starts, including two earlier this year at Fair Grounds. She most recently was a close second to Deluxe in the Nov. 6 Cardinal Handicap on the Churchill turf.

“I think she’s going to run big,” said Bowman. “Switching surfaces shouldn’t be any problem with her. She’s trained most of her career over this track and has shown before how much she likes it.”

Super Espresso (post 8) is the 121-pound highweight in the 1 1/8-mile Falls City for trainer Todd Pletcher. Javier Castellano will be in from New York to ride.

From the rail, this is the Falls City lineup: Arena Elvira, It’s Tea Time, Riviera Chic, Spring Party, Juanita, Brushed by a Star, Secret File, Super Espresso, Afleeting Lady, and Ravi’s Song.

Lanerie, meanwhile, is the only jockey at the Churchill fall meet within shouting distance of leader Julien Leparoux, who has ridden 28 winners. Lanerie has 20 wins, many of them with non-favorites or outright longshots such as his three winners here Sunday: Autumn Eyes ($41.40) in the sixth, A Boy Named Em ($24.40) in the eighth, and Sabre’s Silhouette ($24.20) in the 10th.

First post for the 12-race Thanksgiving card is 11:30 a.m. Eastern, with the Falls City going at 4:24 and the last race at 4:53.