Defections leave Nash tepid favorite in wide-open Pat Day Mile

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The defections of Knightsbridge and Glengarry from the field certainly appear to have made Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Pat Day Mile a wide-open affair.

Knightsbridge, off two impressive wins, has an injury that will keep him out through the summer, trainer Bill Mott said. Glengarry, winner of the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland last month, had a few minor issues that prevented trainer Doug Anderson from entering him.

Thus, the Pat Day field ballooned to a competitive field of 12 with many ways to go.

Nash, a son of Malibu Moon out of the three-time graded stakes-winning mare Sara Louise, could go off a slight favorite coming off a 5 1/2-length victory in the Hot Springs Stakes going a two-turn mile on March 23 at Oaklawn. That came after three losses in two-turn stakes going 1 1/16 miles.

:: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more.

“He’s probably cut out to be a miler. We saw that this winter at Fair Grounds,” said Brad Cox, trainer of Nash. “We cut him back to a mile in the Hot Springs, and I thought he responded well. We gave him enough opportunities around two turns to take that step forward and just thought shortening him up seemed to work last time.”

Trainer Steve Asmussen sends out Carbone and Otto the Conqueror, second and fifth, respectively, in the Hot Springs. Carbone failed to successfully route in the Southwest and Rebel stakes. He did win his career debut going six furlongs here in November. Otto the Conqueror went 2 for 2 at Churchill Downs last fall before winning the Springboard Mile at Remington Park.

“They’re both well suited to the one-turn mile,” Asmussen said. “Otto the Conqueror drew well and is a completely different horse one turn versus two turns. Don’t love Carbone drawing the one-hole coming out of that long chute. He went 1:09-and-four when he broke his maiden, so he’s capable of being pretty fast.”

Cristian Torres rides Carbone. Joel Rosario is aboard Otto the Conqueror.

Trainers Tom Drury and Riley Mott entered Who Dey and Beeline, respectively, when they learned of the defections of Knightsbridge and Glengarry.

Who Dey, a son of Liam’s Map, beat Ohio-breds in his first three starts before winning an open-company allowance going a mile last November at Churchill. In his only start this year, Who Dey finished second to Glengarry in the Lafayette, run over what Drury felt was a speed-favoring Keeneland track.

“He was fresh, he broke good and sharp, and wanted to put himself in the race,” Drury said. “Johnny [McKee] called an audible and decided to take him back. Speed-favoring track, you look down the lane, he comes running again and ran a great second.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. rides Who Dey from post 7.

Beeline, a son of Bee Jersey, went 2 for 2 at Gulfstream, both at six furlongs, including a nose victory in the Hutcheson Stakes on March 16.

“I think he got looked in the eye and really withstood the acid test. He got headed and showed a lot of grit, and that’s something you can’t train into them,” Riley Mott said.

He is optimistic Beeline will be able to stretch out to the mile.

“He generally gallops out very well in his works,” Mott said. “He’s a good-training horse, and he’s very willing. His sire won the Met Mile; I have no reason to believe he won’t handle it.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Beeline from post 2.

Top Conor was most impressive winning his debut at Gulfstream going a mile for Chad Brown. He set the pace in the Blue Grass and finished sixth, eight lengths behind stablemate Sierra Leone.

Seize the Grey, seventh in the Blue Grass, landed in here instead of the also-eligible list for the Kentucky Derby.

Northern Flame, Guanare, Frosty Indulgence, Vlahos, and Gettysburg Address complete the field.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.