Highball owns class edge in turf allowance

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nothing could be too good for mom, which might be a reason Churchill Downs will be offering up such a nice program Sunday before the usual festive gathering of Mother’s Day celebrants.

Three allowances are on tap, led by a $54,000 turf route that drew an oversubscribed field of older horses. Highball, a stakes-seasoned 4-year-old trained by Wayne Catalano, looks like the horse to beat in the nominal feature, a second-level optional $62,500 claimer that is carded as the seventh of 10 races.

The other allowances, both first-level races with purses of $52,000, are carded as races 3 and 9 on a program that starts at 12:45 p.m. Eastern. The program also includes a $50,000 claimer (race 4), a starter allowance (race 8), and two maiden specials (races 6 and 10).

Mother’s Day is perennially popular with families in the local area, with many dining areas much busier than on other Sundays at the spring meet.

After Sunday, Churchill goes dark for three days before another four-day week resumes Thursday with a twilight card.

Race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Highball (Last 3 Beyers: 85-87-93)

◗ Graded stakes-placed colt stands to benefit substantially from his latest at Keeneland, where he finished a creditable third over soft going; all those stakes on his past performances make him the class of this lineup.

Woodfield Springs (Last 3 Beyers: 82-83-74)

◗ Another 4-year-old with considerable stakes experience, he finally went through his first allowance condition in an off-the-turf race last out at Keeneland; comes favorably drawn toward the hedge in a move back to his preferred surface.

Key to Power (Last 3 Beyers: 85-92-69)

◗ Impeccably bred son of A.P. Indy won first off the claim for Brendan Walsh when scoring at nearly 17-1 two back at Gulfstream Park and fits well with this brand as one of five in a cast of 13 (including two also-eligibles) entered for the $62,500 claiming option.

Cashmere Cat (Last 3 Beyers: 85-75-70)

◗ Dramatic switch in tactics in his lone start of the year in mid-February resulted in a drawing-off victory for a first-level condition; hard to say where he has been since then (no published works) but matches up well on form.