Classy pair takes big drop

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After moderate success at the loftiest levels of the sport, a pair of classy 3-year-olds will make rare dips into the allowance ranks when the final four-day stretch of the Churchill Downs spring meet begins Thursday.

Pleasant Prince will be coming off five straight graded stakes appearances in the eighth race, a first-level turf allowance, while Beautician will be exiting nine straight graded events in the preceding race, a first-level optional $75,000 claimer for 3-year-old fillies.

According to owner Ken Ramsey, Pleasant Prince was "a million to one to win the Triple Crown" when Ramsey made an all-out push to get the colt to amass sufficient earnings to make the field for the May 1 Kentucky Derby. Second by a nose to Ice Box in the Florida Derby, Pleasant Prince then ran seventh in the Blue Grass Stakes and third in the Derby Trial in his failed bid to get into the Derby. Pleasant Prince was 11th of 12 in his most recent start, the May 15 Preakness, and on Thursday he will be making his first start on turf.

Ten other 3-year-olds, including a Ramsey entrymate, Rules of Honor, are entered in the $53,600, 1 1/8-mile race. Julien Leparoux has been named back aboard Pleasant Prince by trainer Wesley Ward.

Beautician, trained by Ken McPeek, has been somewhat disappointing when facing the elite of her division, including Blind Luck, Evening Jewel, She Be Wild, and Hot Dixie Chick.

"We need to get her back in the win column," said McPeek. "Hopefully she can get it done in this spot."

Beautician, with Alex Solis to ride, will break from the outside post in a field of seven in the $53,600, 1 1/16-mile dirt race.

Thursday kicks off a busy final week of racing here. The fourth and final night racing card is set for Friday, two Grade 3 stakes and the possible return of 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird highlight the Saturday card, and the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap helps close the meet Sunday.

First post Thursday is 12:45 p.m. Eastern.

* Action here Sunday resulted in carryovers of $10,113 in the $2 pick six (races 4-9) and $11,973 in the $1 super high five (race 9) for Thursday.