Gierkink's preview: Questions abound in Connaught Cup

Saturday, May 31, preview

Connaught Cup

There are questions to be answered in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup, the second turf stakes of the meet. Is Excaper a much-improved runner following throat surgery? Is River Seven ready off the layoff? Will the table be set for a closer if all the speed hooks up in the seven-furlong test?

Excaper returned from a six-month absence in April to win a tough one-mile allowance comfortably at Keeneland with a career-high 99 Beyer Speed Figure. Trainer Ian Black said Excaper underwent throat surgery to correct an entrapped epiglottis during the winter in Florida.

“When we brought him back, we waited for that race at Keeneland, which made sense,” Black said. “I’d noticed in his works that he was finishing better, so maybe we fixed something.”

River Seven notched three consecutive stakes wins beginning with a 10-length romp here in the Labeeb on grass Oct. 19. He went on to take the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Keeneland and the $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream. He has been idle since getting dusted in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 9 at Gulfstream and might need one before getting back to his peak, even though he’s been working fast on the training track.

Excaper, Dimension, Something Extra, and Mr. Online all possess speed, although two-time Connaught Cup winner Something Extra has won from a stalking position before. If a suicidal pace materializes, Kentucky shipper Occasional View could be the main beneficiary. He rallied on his left lead for second while favored in the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes here three weeks ago. Laugh Track, a closing sprinter who was beaten a neck in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, is winless in two turf starts.

Ronaldino back in action

The wily veteran Ronaldino makes his 10-year-old debut in the ninth race, a five-furlong dash for $6,250 claimers. Ronaldino has won off a layoff seven times in the past and has a remarkable record of 16 wins from 34 starts, for earnings of more than $300,000.

If you’re going two deep in the late pick four, use Ronaldino and Crowns Dynasty, who went way too fast on the lead last time before wilting in an $8,000 claimer. David Moran picks up the mount on him.