Heuston maturing ahead of featured allowance
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Conor Murphy has dashed in and out of the international racing spotlight in the last few years, first by hitting a parlay wager for $1.5 million in March 2012 when still working as a stable lad in the United Kingdom.
Murphy was all set to be a minor role player in the Kentucky Derby story of Mubtaahij when hosting the colt for a week in his barn at the Skylight Training Center just east of Louisville, but those plans changed Friday afternoon when it was announced Mubtaahij will remain instead at Arlington Park until shipping straight to Churchill Downs on April 27.
Whatever the case, Murphy wouldn’t mind going front-and-center Sunday at Keeneland when sending out an Irish-bred gelding named Heuston in the last of three allowances, a $64,000, third-level turf route that serves as the nominal feature on Military Day at the races.
:: DRF Live: Get real-time updates and insights from DRF reporters and handicappers on Sunday
Heuston came to peak form last fall in winning back-to-back races, ending with the Prairie Bayou Stakes at Turfway Park.
“He really seems to be coming to hand,” said Murphy. “He was very immature last year, even as a 5-year-old. He’s ready to go. I’m very happy with him.”
Heuston, with Jimmy Graham to ride, is one of a handful of contenders in what shapes up as a well-matched feature. Iron Power, Sinatra, and Kharafa figure as the ones to beat in a full field of older horses.
Resuming what has been a very rainy spring meet, the forecast for Sunday calls for a 100 percent chance of thunderstorms and a high temperature of 71. Friday and Saturday were supposed to bring good weather.
After Sunday, Keeneland goes dark for two days before the final three-day stretch of the meet commences Wednesday. The Grade 3 Bewitch closes out the meet Friday.
Key contenders
Heuston (Last 3 Beyers: 80-86-84)
* Handy sort was beaten a nose at 15-1 in a first-level turf allowance here last fall before knocking out that condition at Churchill Downs, a triumph that was punctuated three weeks later with his Prairie Bayou score.
Sinatra (Last 3 Beyers: 91-80-85)
* Son of Harlan’s Holiday has run creditably, if not spectacularly, since coming into the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott last summer and most recently was third for this same condition at Gulfstream Park after boldly bidding into the fray.
Iron Power (Last 3 Beyers: 89-102-85)
* Speedy gray gelding is the likely favorite in this spot and will be making his first start for Christophe Clement after running some big ones for Mike Hushion last summer in New York.
Kharafa (Last 3 Beyers: 102-91-92)
* New York-bred gelding capped another productive campaign last fall by capturing the restricted Mohawk on the Belmont turf and shows a number of sharp works at Gulfstream Park West in preparing to return from a six-month absence.