Great Stuff heads deep sprint allowance
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Derby week starts in earnest Tuesday, which means the whole family will be getting together again at the Angel Montano barn.
All seven of the grown children in the Montano family have varying degrees of interest in racing, including Joey Montano, who is only 54 but has attended every Kentucky Derby since Majestic Prince won in 1969.
“We’ve been eaten up with it since we were babies,” he said.
The Montanos would just love to have a reunion photo taken after Great Stuff goes postward as a top contender in the seventh race on a rare Tuesday card at Churchill. Great Stuff, with Brian Hernandez Jr. to ride, will break from post 2 in the $54,000, six-furlong race, one of three allowances on a nine-race program that starts at 12:45 p.m. Eastern.
“It’s a tough race, but I do expect him to be competitive,” said Angel Montano, a three-time leading trainer (1976-78 spring meets) at Churchill. “I wish the race was a bit longer, but you’ve got to dance when you can.”
Great Stuff, a private purchase last fall, has been the runner-up to a couple of monsters since Montano assumed his training: Union Jackson ran easily the fastest time for 6 1/2 furlongs at the 2015 Churchill fall meet, and Limousine Liberal set a Keeneland record at that same distance last month. Both races went in 1:15.05.
The other Tuesday allowances go as races 1 and 8. Two starter allowances also are on tap.
The Tuesday card will follow shortly after entries for the 142nd Kentucky Oaks and other Friday races are drawn.
KEY CONTENDERS (race 7)
Great Stuff, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 90-77-90
◗ Four-year-old colt was cut out to be a good one and was actually given a shot on the 2015 Kentucky Derby trail by former trainer Ian Wilkes before a more realistic path was followed.
Deep Sea, by Mineshaft
Last 3 Beyers: 88-81-88
◗ Consistent colt was an odds-on winner at Gulfstream in his last start in February and now adds Julien Leparoux, who rode four winners on the spring opener here Saturday night.
Ray’s Warrior, by Majestic Warrior
Last 3 Beyers: 98-87-83
◗ Steve Hobby-trained colt blitzed first-level sprinters at Oaklawn Park when earning that gaudy Beyer Speed Figure in his latest and now is out to show the figure was no outlier.