High-class runners drop out of Firecracker
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With several would-be contenders taking a pass, the Grade 2, $200,000 Firecracker on closing night of the 38-day Churchill Downs spring meet is taking on a wide-open look.
Highly regarded nominees such as Sky Captain, The Pizza Man, Departing, and Golden Soul will not run, according to their connections, leaving the one-mile turf race with no apparent favorite. Among those who could start are Aztec Brave, Frac Daddy, Guys Reward, Hammers Terror, Villandry, and Xtra Luck.
The Firecracker, which drew 40 nominations, is one of two graded races among four stakes set for the meet finale next Saturday, June 27. It will anchor the third Downs After Dark program of the meet, following night cards April 25 and June 13.
Sky Captain, second before being disqualified to fourth for interference in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day, figured as a major threat in the Firecracker but is behind schedule after missing about a week of training with a foot abscess, according to assistant trainer Norm Casse.
Frac Daddy, second to The Pizza Man in the May 30 Opening Verse in his first start in 10 months, also is being considered for the $150,000 Dominion Day on July 1 at Woodbine, said trainer Ken McPeek.
Xtra Luck, trained by Neil Howard, would be turning back from 1 1/2 miles after winning the Grade 3 Louisville in his latest outing.
Besides the Firecracker, the other Saturday stakes are the Grade 3, $100,000 Bashford Manor for 2-year-old colts and geldings, the $100,000 Debutante for 2-year-old fillies, and the $70,000 Kelly’s Landing for older horses at seven furlongs.
Steve Asmussen will be front and center in both six-furlong races for juveniles with a pair for each. He said he intends to run Sapphire Storm and Show Bound in the Bashford Manor and Adhara and Areolite in the Debutante. Asmussen has won each race four times.
Entries for all closing-night races will be drawn Wednesday.
As opposed to recent years, when Churchill ended on a Sunday, this spring meet will end a day earlier, with track officials having opted to scrap what usually was an anticlimactic afternoon. After five dark days, live action on the Kentucky circuit will start back July 3 at Ellis Park in western Kentucky.
Jockeys plan next moves
Chris Landeros will employ Frank Bernis as his agent when the Churchill meet concludes. Landeros, like a number of other jockeys based here this spring, will split time this summer between Ellis Park, Indiana Grand, and “wherever else we might have a stakes mount,” said Bernis, who will continue working for Brian Hernandez Jr.
A handful of Churchill jockeys are headed for the Saratoga meet, which starts July 24, including Corey Lanerie, Julien Leparoux, and Shaun Bridgmohan, while Jimmy Graham is trying his hand at Del Mar, which starts July 16.
Apprentice rider Sebastian Saez is expected to be among the top jockeys at Ellis. His older brother, Juan, easily was the leading rider there last summer prior to his untimely death in October.
◗ The 1 1/4-length victory by Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Simple Surprise in her career debut here Thursday was the meet-leading fifth by a 2-year-old for Asmussen. Both of his Debutante prospects also are Winchell homebreds who won here at first asking: Areolite won May 21, and Adhara won May 28.