Gierkink's preview: Jackpot Hi 5 over $200,000

Back on the grass

After heavy rainfall, Wednesday night’s turf events were scrapped, but a dry Thursday should lead to the return of turf racing on this nine-race card. The portable rail is in lane 2, and the course should offer firm footing.

There will be more interest than normal surrounding the nightcap because of the Jackpot Hi 5 carryover of $204,291. Scheduled for the grass, the 1 1/16-mile allowance for Ontario-sired stock drew an overflowing field of 16. There are 14 runners in the body of the race, including Dance for Cole, who can handle either local surface.

Dance for Cole was listed as a first-time gelding when he went long on the Polytrack following an extended layoff June 6. He went straight to the front and set honest fractions along the inside over an outside-biased track before fading to third.

Snowy Legacy, who outran Dance for Cole for second that day, is trying the grass for the first time in his fifth start. The son of the surprisingly good turf sire Milwaukee Brew is the first foal from turf stakes winner London Snow. He is the 3-1 morning-line favorite, while Dance for Cole is 4-1.

Others trying the turf for the first time and possessing some breeding for the surface include the Sligo Bay gelding Henke and Bandamba, who is a half-brother to four turf winners.

Pivotal sixth race

The other turf event on the card is part of both pick fours. Among those in the 1 1/16-mile maiden special route are two daughters of top turf sire Kitten’s Joy who are experimenting on the lawn: Copper Kitten (7-2) and Nash’s Joy (15-1).

Soho Dancer (8-1), a daughter of the legendary European sire Galileo, is making her first start on this side of the pond for Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield, who also sends out the 5-2 morning-line favorite Lady Empress.

Horse to watch

SUPER SARAH
Trainer: John Mattine
Last race: June 25, 5th
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/2
Beyer: 49

This debuting 3-year-old filly finished strongly on the outside after racing in 10th through the turn and galloped out well. The daughter of Giant Gizmo is bred to run farther than the five-furlong distance of that Ontario-sired maiden special and could find the mark when she stretches out.