Danny Boy may offer value in Bourbon Stakes
LEXINGTON, Ky. – As he gets back on his preferred surface, the promising Danny Boy may be flying under the radar against a field that includes three stakes winners in the Grade 3, $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on Keeneland’s turf.
The race is a Win and You’re In qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Oct. 31 at Santa Anita.
Danny Boy, trained by Dale Romans for Donegal Racing, was an impressive debut winner at a mile and 70 yards on the Ellis Park turf, rallying to win by three lengths despite greenly drifting in down the lane. The colt proceeded to finish a creditable fourth in the Iroquois Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.
Danny Boy is by Harlan’s Holiday, the sire of last year’s off-the-turf Bourbon winner, Poker Player. The colt is also a half-brother to Meal Penalty, a stakes winner on turf and synthetic.
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Danny Boy and Corey Lanerie landed post 4 in a field of nine runners that features three stakes winners. The most accomplished among those is Conquest Tsunami, who won the Colin and Victoria stakes on Polytrack at Woodbine. The colt was cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, which would be his first try on dirt. On Friday, trainer Mark Casse said he was leaning toward running in that spot.
“If the weather is not bad and the track is in good shape, he’ll probably run [in the Futurity],” Casse said. “Initially, I was leaning toward the grass, but I don’t think he likes soft turf.”
The other stakes winners entered are Croninthebarbarian, who won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile, and Less Than Perfect, who won the Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Stakes on Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs.
Bourbon Stakes, race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Danny Boy (Last 2 Beyers: 70-77)
◗ Won his debut going two turns on turf and switches back to this surface after finishing fourth in the Iroquois.
Lawn Ranger (Last 2 Beyers: 63-65)
◗ Finished second to Danny Boy in his Ellis Park debut, then won his maiden going a mile on the Kentucky Downs turf.
Conquest Tsunami (Last 3 Beyers: 80-76-76)
◗ Unbeaten colt, who could opt for the Futurity on dirt, has raced exclusively on Polytrack and turf, with a pair of stakes wins. Stretching out beyond seven furlongs for the first time.
Croninthebarbarian (Last 3 Beyers: 78-61-43)
◗ Unbeaten in two starts on turf, including the Kentucky Downs Juvenile. This is his first try past seven furlongs.
Chief Kitten (Last 2 Beyers: 62-64)
◗ One of two in the race, along with two-turn maiden winner Can’t Happen Here, coming in from New York for Chad Brown, who excels with his turf juveniles. Finished second to well-regarded stablemate Startup Nation in his Saratoga debut, then won next out at a mile on the Belmont turf.
