Churchill notes: Fiftyshadesofgold must overcome yet another inside draw in Dogwood

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Theoretically, an inside post is the quickest way to victory.

But in one-turn races, most horsemen prefer an outside post, given a choice. There’s less chance for encumbrances that might be found when trapped in traffic close to the rail, and outside horses often don’t have to stand as long in the starting gate.

So, when Fiftyshadesofgold and jockey Robby Albarado were assigned post 2 in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies for the seven-furlong Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs this weekend, Bret Calhoun was not very pleased – but not surprised, either. Except for her triumph here in the Grade 3 Eight Belles on Kentucky Oaks Day, Fiftyshadesofgold has made a habit of drawing inside posts.

“We’ve been a little unfortunate with our post-position draws,” said Calhoun. “Robby will just have to work out the right kind of trip.”

Fiftyshadesofgold broke from post 1 last summer in an extremely adventurous defeat as a 1-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga; post 3 in a field of 13 in the Grade 1 Acorn in June; and post 1 in the Grade 1 Test last month at Saratoga in her most recent start.

In the Test, the Texas-bred standout contested all the pace before settling for fourth, a length behind the victorious Sweet Reason.

“She took all the pressure early and was beaten a length,” said Calhoun. “Not to take anything away from the winner, but with a better draw, I really believe she would have had a much bigger chance of winning that race.”

The Grade 3, $100,000 Dogwood, the lone stakes in Kentucky this weekend, appears to shape up tougher than normal, assuming the field holds together. Two other fillies from the Test, Thank You Marylou (sixth) and Bird Maker (eighth), are in the lineup, as are the Eight Belles runner-up, Milam, and several other fillies in peak form.

On another note, Calhoun said he expects to have Marchman ready for the Grade 3 Woodford on the opening Saturday, Oct. 4, of the Keeneland fall meet. The turf-sprint specialist missed his last scheduled start, the Turf Monster at Parx, because of a leg infection. In the spring, Marchman swept key races in his niche, the Grade 3 Shakertown and Twin Spires Turf Sprint.

Meet leaders at the halfway mark

Halfway through the 12-day September meet, Corey Lanerie and Ricardo Santana Jr. are tied with nine wins apiece atop the Churchill jockeys’ standings. Lanerie has been the leading rider at five of the last six Churchill meets.

The trainers’ standings are tightly bunched, with Steve Asmussen (four wins) holding a slim lead over seven trainers with three wins each.

Favorites are winning at a 41 percent clip (25 for 61).

Closing day for Kentucky Downs

Kentucky Downs has one more day on its five-day schedule, and it should be a good one. Two $200,000 stakes – the Ladies Marathon and Turf Dash – will highlight the closing-day card next Wednesday at the turf-only track in south-central Kentucky.

Despite the big fields being attracted by swollen purses, here’s a surprising statistic from the first three days of the Kentucky Downs meet: favorites had won half the races (15 of 30).