Danish Dynaformer lukewarm choice in wide-open Louisville Handicap

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Some of the connections of Preakness horses could have a bit more spring in their steps while making the walkover at Pimlico due to results of a stakes race hundreds of miles away at Churchill Downs.

Two trainers with Preakness starters, Brendan Walsh and Mark Casse, have entrants in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Louisville Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on turf, as do Preakness owners West Point Thoroughbreds and Calumet Farm with other Louisville Handicap runners.

With Churchill’s race coming roughly an hour before the Preakness, Walsh, who saddles Illinois Derby winner Multiplier in the Preakness, may end up having to watch the Louisville Handicap on his phone as he prepares his starter for the second leg of the Triple Crown.

At least his Louisville Handicap representative, Reporting Star, should be easy to follow even if watching on a tiny display. A speedy 7-year-old gelding, Reporting Star is the projected early leader.

It is the finish that is more challenging to predict. Contention runs deep in the 12-horse race, reflected in morning-line odds in which six horses range in price from 4-1 to 8-1, with Danish Dynaformer the lukewarm favorite at 4-1.

Whether Reporting Star can lead throughout may depend on his behavior. Although experienced with 36 starts, he can still prove temperamental in the paddock and starting gate, which may have proved his undoing in the Grade 2 Pan American at Gulfstream Park on April 1, when he had to be reloaded into the starting gate after misbehaving.

“Something got in his head. He decided he was having a bad day,” Walsh said.

He faded to fifth during the running, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, a lesser performance than when he was a close third in his previous race March 14 in the Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream.

Louisville Handicap, Race 11

Key Contenders

Kaigun, by Northern Afleet

Last 3 Beyers: 83-99-95

◗ Returns on two weeks’ rest after a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, a race run on wet ground over which he struggled to quicken.

Twilight Eclipse, by Purim

Last 3 Beyers: 94-100-99

◗ A winner of more than $2.1 million, he makes his first start for trainer Graham Motion after being transferred from trainer Tom Albertrani by owner West Point Thoroughbreds. He was scratched from last week’s Grade 1 Man o’ War at Belmont, which was run under boggy conditions.

Danish Dynaformer, by Dynaformer

Last 3 Beyers: 97-99-96

◗ Can handle firm, good, or yielding turf, having run a close fourth over the latter type of ground in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes most recently at Keeneland on April 22.