Gracee Goo likely to stalk pace in Downs After Dark feature

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Only one allowance is carded for a 10-race Downs After Dark program Friday evening at Churchill Downs, but will ontrack fans even notice? Their efforts will be focused on simply staying warm.

Lows in the mid-20s are in the Friday forecast, a frigid factor that figures to substantially limit the crowd. Anyone wanting to witness the nominal feature had better arrive early: It goes as the third race on a program that starts at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

Eight fillies and mares are entered in the $45,000 headliner, a five-furlong dash scheduled for the turf. It’s a second-level allowance, although six of the eight in the lineup have been entered under a $62,500 claiming option, including all of the top contenders.

Gracee Goo, entered off a sharp victory in a similar race last month in her first try for trainer Tom Amoss, looks like a deserving favorite in a field that also includes Crookedpathtoglory and Angie’s Prim Lady as viable players.

This will be the 32nd Downs After Dark card – and the only one of this 26-day fall meet – at Churchill, where racing under the lights was first held in June 2009. The lowest attendance for a night card was 11,058 on Sept. 5, a sweltering opening night of the September meet.

A James Bond “shaken not stirred” theme is in effect, with Churchill encouraging fans to attend in formal wear. General admission is $10. The last race is set for 9:08.

KEY CONTENDERS

Gracee Goo (Last 3 Beyers: 79-67-70)

◗ Amoss shows spectacular percentages in all the categories that apply here as he shrewdly spots this filly for the $62,500 tag. A winner in four of her last five starts, she figures to be pace-chasing while saving ground under careful rating from Julien Leparoux.

Crookedpathtoglory (Last 3 Beyers: 76-70-66)

◗ This consistent filly adds blinkers while apt to benefit from what figures to be a torrid pace. She’s posted only three wins but a slew of on-the-board finishes from her 22 starts, so making her a key “under” play in the vertical exotics wouldn’t seem a bad idea.

Angie’s Prim Lady (Last 3 Beyers: 78-78-76)

◗ The Florida-bred 3-year-old came to peak form for a high-percentage barn in late summer before taking a brief respite. Now she returns with a nice set of works under her while spotted for the optional tag; she, too, wouldn’t mind seeing a too-fast tempo develop up front.

Gift Receipt (Last 3 Beyers: 65-10-85)

◗ This all-or-nothing filly would seem to benefit most from a temporary rail, given how she’ll be setting sail from her outside post as the speed of the speed. She shows nothing but bullet works in preparation for this.