Churchill: Wise Dan tops BC winners on Derby, Oaks cards

LOUISVILLE, Ky. − Three winners from the two-day Breeders’ Cup program last fall at Santa Anita are expected in action this weekend at Churchill.

Wise Dan, who capped his Horse of the Year campaign by winning the BC Mile, will run in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard, and Beholder, winner of the BC Juvenile Fillies, goes in the Kentucky Oaks.

The other BC winner who has drawn precious little notice this week at Churchill is Trinniberg, the BC Sprint winner whose connections confirmed Tuesday that he will run on the Derby undercard in the Grade 2, $400,000 Churchill Downs Stakes.

The seven-furlong Churchill was supposed to get a sizable field of older horses when entries for the entire Derby card were drawn Wednesday, with Delaunay, a dominant performer throughout the winter at Fair Grounds, among those who could challenge Trinniberg for favoritism. Other probables include Handsome Mike, Hierro, Laurie’s Rocket, and Unbridled’s Note.

Trinniberg, trained by Shivananda Parbhoo, has raced once since his 13-1 Breeders’ Cup victory, finishing 11th of 13 in the March 30 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Marketing Mix in Distaff Turf Mile

Marketing Mix, runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, will kick off her 5-year-old season in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Distaff Turf Mile.

On Tuesday, Marketing Mix completed preparations for her return by working a half-mile in 51 seconds over the Churchill Downs turf course.

Marketing Mix had a record of 4-2-0 from seven starts last year, including a victory in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita in September. The only race Marketing Mix did not run well in last year was the Distaff Turf Mile, in which she finished fourth, four lengths behind Hungry Island.

“She didn’t really fire last year in this race,” trainer Tom Proctor said. “It was a little heavy last year and a little wet, I don’t think she likes that the best.”

A terrific field is shaping up for the Distaff Turf Mile, including Hungry Island, Karlovy Vary, Stephanie’s Kitten, Channel Lady, Drama Drama, Miz Ida, and possibly Stopshoppingmaria.

- additional reporting by David Grening