Frac Daddy should be set for best effort in Firecracker

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The folks at Churchill Downs thought they would go out with a bang and not a whimper, so they lopped off an anticlimactic Sunday from their spring meet while choosing to end with a Saturday night card featuring a race called the Firecracker.

It seems like a good choice. A Downs After Dark card with all the attendant celebrating should provide a fitting conclusion to a remarkably eventful meet with the Grade 2, $200,000 Firecracker, an evenly matched turf race carded as the eighth of 11 races. First post is 6 p.m. Eastern.

Frac Daddy and the Al Stall Jr.-trained pair of Departing and Medal Count are among the top contenders in the one-mile Firecracker, a key link in an all-stakes pick four that starts with the Bashford Manor (race 6). Overall, the meet-ending program is outstanding – it’s replete with big fields and ends an unforgettable nine-week span highlighted by American Pharoah winning the Kentucky Derby while eating, sleeping, and training at Churchill during his historic journey through the Triple Crown.

Frac Daddy, trained by Ken McPeek, comes off a sharp comeback effort as the runner-up in the May 30 Opening Verse over the Churchill turf. The 5-year-old Frac Daddy had not raced in 10 months when setting the pace in that 1 1/16-mile race, and McPeek is confident he will benefit substantially from that needed outing when taking a slight cutback in distance.

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“He’s actually overcome a whole lot just to be where he is,” said McPeek. “He was injured in his stall last summer at Del Mar, then had major colic surgery last winter and got a MRSA infection. He’s lucky to be alive, much less competing at a high level again. It shows how tough he is.”

Frac Daddy, an earner of nearly $700,000 from 19 career starts, will break nearest the hedge when having Corey Lanerie aboard in the two-turn race.

Departing (post 7, Miguel Mena) raced alongside Frac Daddy throughout much of the Opening Verse before settling for third, beaten just a head for second.

“It was a good race, not great,” said Stall. “Our plan all along this year was to give him a chance on the grass, so we’re sticking with it. Hopefully, he’ll improve off that last one.”

Medal Count (post 8, Jimmy Graham) is yet another Firecracker starter making his second start off a lengthy layoff. An earner of more than $450,000 last year at 3, he clearly is better than what he showed here last Saturday when finishing last in an off-the-turf allowance.

“We’re acting like that last race was a workout,” said Stall. “He’s run big on short rest before.”

This will be the 25th running of the Firecracker, which is scheduled for 9:39. The other stakes on a program averaging 10.1 starters per race (before scratches and not including also-eligibles) are the Bashford Manor (race 6), Debutante (race 7), and Kelly’s Landing (race 9). The last race goes at 11:10.

The Firecracker formerly was run on Independence Day – hence the name – but the spring meet no longer extends into July. Its most famous winners are Kitten’s Joy (2005) and Wise Dan (2011, 2013).

The forecast for Saturday night is a good one, with a daytime high of only 74 and just a slight possibility of lingering showers. General admission is $10.

After Saturday night, the Kentucky circuit will go dark for five days before the Ellis Park meet starts Friday, July 3.

Firecracker, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Frac Daddy (Last 3 Beyers: 85-91-89)

◗ McPeek considered the Dominion Day next week on Woodbine’s Polytrack before settling on staying home; no standout favorite in the lineup leaves him as one of the major players, especially off his solid Opening Verse effort.

Departing (Last 3 Beyers: 85-85-97)

◗ Stall considered the Kelly’s Landing for this Claiborne/Dilschneider homebred before deciding that a big try over turf would yield more options down the road; a $1.6 million bankroll speaks to how classy this 5-year-old gelding is.

Medal Count (Last 3 Beyers: 75-78-89)

◗ Second in the Blue Grass and third in the Belmont Stakes when trained last year by Dale Romans, he’s eligible to rebound in a big way off that disappointing return.

Sky Flight (Last 3 Beyers: 94-92-83)

◗ Supplemented to this for a $6,000 fee after being left off the nominations list, this colt will be making his first start in five months after really coming to hand over the winter for Mark Casse.