Gambler's Ghost moves up into tough company for second-level allowance

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – You never know what the entry box will produce, either in quantity and quality. Eddie Kenneally was hoping for a relatively easy jump in conditions for the 3-year-old colt Gambler’s Ghost before they migrate to Florida for the winter, but he got something a bit different.

“It’s a tough little race, I’ll say,” Kenneally said of the Sunday feature at Churchill Downs, a $45,000, second-level allowance at six furlongs. “There are some nice horses in there against us.”

Gambler’s Ghost, with leading jockey Corey Lanerie to ride, is one of the likely favorites among 11 3-year-olds and up in the ninth of 10 Sunday races. An impressive maiden winner at Gulfstream on New Year’s Day, he subsequently took a drubbing in the Grade 3 Hutcheson Stakes before being away nearly eight months. He returned with a flashy 3 1/2-length triumph as the odds-on favorite on closing day of the September meet at Churchill.

“He’s really trained well since then,” said Kenneally, referring to four local workouts in the last month.

More than half the runners in the field appear capable of winning, but the chief opposition for Gambler’s Ghost may be Amarish, Ouimet, Double Ours, Vanity Feature, and Officer Griffin.

First post Sunday is 12:40 p.m. Eastern, with the feature going at 4:37. Sunday is Family Adventure Day and offers a wide variety of activities for children. After Sunday, Churchill goes dark for two days before another five-day week commences Wednesday.

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Key contenders

Amarish (Last 3 Beyers: 91-77-74)

* The seven-week layoff might be cause for pause until you see he’s had six workouts in the interim. The stakes-seasoned 4-year-old finished ahead of only three rivals in that last victory, but he did it the right way, posting a career-high Beyer.

Ouimet (Last 3 Beyers: 59-86-93)

* One of three entered for a $62,500 claiming option (with Amarish and Ruble), he has done some of his best work over his home Churchill surface when sent away at juicy odds, having won allowances here at 10-1 and 8-1.

Double Ours (Last 3 Beyers: 91-77-71)

* Brad Cox merrily continues through easily his career-best season ($2.1 million in stable earnings through Thursday) by doing particularly well with new claims (30 percent first off claim) such as this gray colt.

Gambler’s Ghost (Last 3 Beyers: 83-50-86)

* Just 6-1 against the likes of Wildcat Red in the Hutcheson in February, this colt was dominant in his late-September return and sports some nice works that suggest he’s ready for more.

Officer Griffin (Last 3 Beyers: 77-86-88)

* Handy and resurgent, this chestnut gelding risks a three-race win streak when well drawn toward the outside while showing a series of sharp drills that ended with a pair of morning bullets.