Distance of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes right up Ry's the Guy's alley
After Ry’s the Guy won the Champions Day Marathon on Sept. 1 at Churchill Downs, showing long-distance racing on dirt was right in his wheelhouse, trainer Ian Wilkes immediately focused on the biggest year-end race for the division, the Grade 2, $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes on Friday at Keeneland.
“I didn’t want to jam another race into him,” Wilkes said Tuesday. “I thought that was the wrong thing to do. I thought I’d back off and point to this.”
It was a popular choice. Ry’s the Guy is among a full field of 14 3-year-olds and up signed on for the 1 5/8-mile race, which also includes recent long-distance stakes winners Cupid’s Claws and Danny California. The TAA – formerly known as the Marathon – goes as race 5, and is the final warm-up act for the Breeders’ Cup races, which commence with race 6, the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
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Befitting the wide-open nature of the TAA, Ry’s the Guy is the tepid 4-1 favorite on the track morning line, with Cupid’s Claws, Danny California, and Tenfold next at 5-1. Regardless of whom one settles on, a fair price seems assured, as there is no standout.
Ry’s the Guy had made nine straight starts on grass before he was moved back to the dirt last time out. He led from start to finish.
“Those turf horses would get to him quick,” Wilkes said. “I wanted to do something where he could travel along and get away from them. He’s got a good cruising speed.”
Cupid’s Claws, similarly, was moved to the dirt by trainer Craig Dollase for his last start, his first for Dollase after being claimed and his first after a 17-race career previously spent on turf and synthetic. Dollase struck the mother lode. Cupid’s Claws romped in the Grade 3 Tokyo City at Santa Anita going 1 1/2 miles, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 93, the second-best last-out fig in the field.
Danny California, seeking his fourth straight win, comes off a front-running victory going 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park in the Miner’s Mark. You’re To Blame and Rocketry, second and third in the Miner’s Mark, are back for the TAA.
You’re To Blame is “a solid citizen,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.
“Shows up, always runs hard,” he said. “We know he can handle the distance, and he’s in good form.”
Pletcher also sends out Farmington Road, one of two 3-year-olds in the field. After making his last two starts on turf, he returns to dirt for the first time since the Belmont Stakes.
“He ran pretty well on turf, but we don’t think we’ve found his true specialty,” Pletcher said. “He finishes his races with interest. You don’t have to worry about him pulling, and our experience is you don’t want a horse who pulls hard in these marathon races.”
Tenfold is winless in five starts this year, but is a steady galloper who seems suited to this endeavor. He was second most recently in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special, with a Beyer of 97, the best last-out fig in the field.
Signalman comes off a second-level allowance win at Keeneland, where he has finished in the money in all three of his starts.
Plus Que Parfait, second last time out in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, returns to the track at which he earned his maiden win two years ago.