Gaslight Dancer takes on Palisades foes in William Walker
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Gaslight Dancer, winner of the Palisades Stakes last month at Keeneland, and multiple stakes winner Private Creed, the beaten favorite in that race, get a rematch among a well-matched field of eight 3-year-olds set for the $225,000 William Walker Stakes on Saturday evening at Churchill Downs.
Gaslight Dancer emerged from the pack of late-runners to forge his way to the lead in the stretch of the Palisades, then kicked clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths while going this same 5 1/2-furlong trip on the turf. Trainer Mike Maker stated post-race that he was pleased with how well the colt, who he described as headstrong during his graded stakes-placed juvenile campaign, settled in his first start in more than five months.
Tyler Gaffalione, aboard for the Palisades win, retains the mount Saturday after a strong start to the Churchill Downs meet that has him atop the rider standings. Although Gaslight Dancer relaxed early at Keeneland, a lack of truly committed speed on paper for the William Walker could lead to a change of tactics Saturday. Gaslight Dancer raced on the lead winning his maiden, and pressed the pace when a close second in the Grade 3 Futurity last fall.
Private Creed was making the third start of his 3-year-old campaign in the Palisades, but was cutting back after finishing second by a head in the Texas Turf Mile. He was 12th while trying dirt in the Grade 2 Risen Star, which turned out to be a key Kentucky Derby prep. In the Palisades, Private Creed finished fifth, but was beaten just a pair of necks in a blanket photo for third.
As a juvenile, Private Creed won the Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs and the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland, then finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint for Steve Asmussen. Brian Hernandez Jr., aboard for the colt’s winning debut sprinting on the Ellis Park turf last year, gets aboard for the first time since.
Two of a Kind closed for a strong second in the Palisades, his first start on turf for Brian Lynch. A stakes winner on dirt as a juvenile, he was third earlier this year in the Grade 3 Swale Stakes to General Jim and Super Chow and third in the Hutcheson Stakes to Super Chow. He had raced closer to the pace in those dirt efforts and would likely need to employ those tactics again if there is a lack of pace Saturday.
Also emerging from the Palisades are Chiringo, who rallied to be third; Crispy Cat, a close fourth; and No Nay Hudson, who was sixth.
Ah Jeez was twice a winner sprinting on turf last year in California. He spent the winter in Dubai and now cuts back in distance and shifts back to turf in his first start since finishing 13th in the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby on March 25.
Gilcrease, a maiden winner on turf last year in his only prior start on the surface, completes the field.
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