Dalika, Gam's Mission will try to time their moves in Mint Julep Stakes
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Given the presence of a speedball named Ambassador Luna, early tactics could be particularly important Sunday in the Grade 3 Mint Julep at Churchill Downs.
Ambassador Luna, a front-running turf sprinter, surely will sail off to set a fast pace in the $200,000 Mint Julep, assuming she remains in a field of 10 fillies and mares in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. Her trainer, Ben Colebrook, confirmed Friday that the 6-year-old mare is indeed intended to start.
With that, everyone else will be trying to gauge how and when is best to go get her. Dalika, a Grade 3 winner last summer returning from an eight-month layoff, is among those who will lurk in pursuit before going about more serious business down the stretch.
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Having Ambassador Luna set the pace “might actually be good for us,” said Al Stall Jr., trainer of Dalika.
“Our mare settles in real nice behind a target,” he said. “She had a great winter and has come back to train really well. Hopefully all our work and patience are rewarded here.”
Others who will be looking to quicken at the right time are the respective 1-2-3-5 finishers in a hotly contested turf allowance April 23 at Keeneland – Market Rumour, Gam’s Mission, Keeper of Time, and Take Charge Ro.
Gam’s Mission, winner of the Grade 3 Regret here last spring, might be particularly effective making the third start of her form cycle.
“The timing of this race is perfect from her effort at Keeneland,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said.
Other considerations in a very well-matched lineup include Petricor, a Juddmonte homebred who won her stateside debut at the Keeneland spring meet, and Hendy Woods, a last-out third in the Grade 3 Modesty on Kentucky Oaks Day.
First post Sunday is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the 46th Mint Julep going at 4:55 as the ninth of 10 races. Sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s are in the local forecast.
The Mint Julep anchors a card that also includes three allowances (races 3, 7, 8) and two maiden-specials (races 6 and 10), all of them with six-figure purses that include substantial bonuses restricted to registered Kentucky-breds. The Mint Julep purse includes $25,000 in such bonuses.
One of the Sunday allowances (race 7, 3:50) marks the return of Mr. Wireless, winner of the Indiana and West Virginia derbies last year for Bret Calhoun. Caddo River, Three Technique, and South Bend also are part of a seven-horse field in the $148,000 allowance at a one-turn mile.