Coalport formidable against statebred foes in Buck's Boy

STICKNEY, Ill. – The last time Coalport raced in Chicago, he was trained by Wayne Catalano. Coalport’s owners and breeders, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, subsequently moved horses stabled with Catalano to other trainers, and Coalport now is trained by Mike Maker. Different trainer, same horse, and Coalport, who never has lost an Illinois-bred grass race, will be a formidable favorite Saturday in the $75,000 Buck’s Boy Handicap at Hawthorne.

The Buck’s Boy shares top billing on the card with the $75,000 Illini Princess Handicap – both races restricted to Illinois-breds and carded for 1 1/16 miles on grass. The day is expected to be cold, the temperature barely above freezing, but there’s no rain in the forecast, and the Saturday features should stay on turf.

And on turf, Coalport is difficult to oppose. Unraced between November and July, he finished fourth and a distant second in his first two starts for Maker, but both races were rained off grass and onto dirt. Back on turf, Coalport has bounced back to win two straight – the $75,000 Unbridled at Louisiana Downs and a high-end allowance race last month at Keeneland. He never has raced over the Hawthorne grass, but Coalport’s seven turf wins have come over four different courses, and he’s in line for a perfect trip stalking a couple of front-running types Saturday.

One of those front-enders is Super Soldier, who actually abandoned his front-running ways for a pressing trip that produced a near miss here Oct. 25 in a high-level grass allowance race. Super Soldier, who has four wins and a second from five 2014 starts, raced for the first time in almost two months that day, and a forward move Saturday could upset Coalport.

Sweet Luca nipped Super Soldier in the Oct. 25 allowance and can win if a quick pace involves Coalport and softens the speed. Under such a scenario, the late-running Dad Are We Here has a chance to crash the exotics.

Kepi tries again in Illini Princess

The 6-year-old mare Kepi finished second in the 2012 Illini Princess and fourth in the race last year, and she stands a decent chance to break through with a win in Saturday’s edition.

Kepi finished fifth in a pair of recent Kentucky turf races against stronger competition than she meets Saturday, and in her most recent start on this circuit, she was beaten less than two lengths in the Grade 3 Modesty at Arlington. Something close to that performance level or the showing that won the Lincoln Heritage Handicap over Illinois-breds earlier this year could land Kepi the ninth win of her career.

I O Ireland might be Kepi’s equal in ability, but she probably prefers distances at least slightly longer than the 1 1/16 miles she gets Saturday. Alette, I O Ireland’s stablemate, could contend but drew poorly on the far outside.

If the Illini Princess winds up on dirt, Sydneyrella becomes the horse to beat.