Destino d'Oro comes in fresh and ready

The Thursday feature at Churchill Downs, race 8, runs through trainer Brad Cox, who sends Destino d’Oro out for her first start since she took a narrow defeat last October in the Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland.

Destino d’Oro and 11 other fillies and mares were entered in Thursday’s finale, a first-level allowance carded for 1 1/16 miles on grass. With the portable rail set at 36 feet only 10 can start, leaving two big longshots on the also-eligible list.

Destino d’Oro carries 118 pounds, gets six pounds from her older rivals, and Cox believes the filly is set for a representative showing following the extended break. Destino d’Oro scored a sharp debut win at Kentucky Downs late last summer and came out on the wrong end of a three-horse win photo after a dismal trip in the Jessamine.

“Really good race. Traffic trouble, someone kind of came over on her, she raced a little green down the lane, but she really kicked in,” Cox said. “I still can’t believe she didn’t win. I watched it again the other day and I thought she wins for sure.”

Four-year-olds Expatriate and Sy B both returned from a long layoff to race competitively at this class level this spring. They’re Destino d’Oro’s chief opponents on turf, while Justinqueso could land in a great spot should rain force the Thursday feature onto dirt.

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