Honorable Duty turns it around

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Graded stakes winner Honorable Duty, who was pulled up in the Grade 1 Clark in November after a last-place finish in the Fayette in October, returned to form by winning a $61,000 allowance on Sunday at Churchill.

He seemed like his old self on Sunday, enjoying a perfect trip in the day’s second race after the expected front-runner, Conquest Windcity, reared at the break. This allowed Honorable Duty to cruise easily up front before leaving his opponents behind under limited urging from jockey Corey Lanerie. He finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.34, earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

“It was a great to give him a bit of confidence like that, you know, after last year, with a couple of bad runs,” said trainer Brendan Walsh.

Though it ended on a sour note, Honorable Duty experienced a breakout year in 2017, winning three graded stakes and placing in two others while earning $618,520. Among his highlights was a victory in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap, as well as a runner-up finish behind Gun Runner at Churchill Downs in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster, a race for which he will be considered again this year, Walsh said.

The 2018 Stephen Foster, which carries a $500,000 purse, is the centerpiece of a five-stakes card the evening of June 16 at Churchill. The race is also a possible target for Backyard Heaven and Hawaakom, the one-two finishers in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes on Oaks Day at Churchill Downs.

Less than a week after the Stephen Foster, Walsh is likely to have a starter in another prestigious race – Beckford in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup June 22 at Royal Ascot.

Winner of the William Walker at Churchill Downs April 28, Beckford breezed a half-mile in 48.80 seconds Sunday morning around the dogs over the Churchill Downs turf course. He will fly overseas from Indianapolis on June 12, Walsh said.

Also expected to be on that flight is the Tim Glyshaw-trained Bucchero, who also breezed at Churchill Sunday, going a half in 51 seconds on the grass. He is being pointed for the Grade 1 King’s Stand, a five-furlong dash on June 19. The Keeneland-based Lady Aurelia won the 2017 running and is one of the pre-race favorites for this year’s renewal.

◗ Beginning Wednesday, Churchill will offer a reserved training time of 7:30-7:40 a.m. daily for horses pointing for the Belmont Stakes – and most eyes will be on Justify as he readies for a bid to win the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner returned to Churchill Downs on Sunday after flying back from Maryland.

◗ Saturday’s Grade 3 Winning Colors at six furlongs on dirt and the ungraded Keertana at 1 1/2 miles on turf are both expected to have short fields. Brave Daisy, Golden Mischief, Miss Kentucky, and Treble are listed as probable starters by stakes coordinator Dan Bork for the Winning Colors, with a few others possible to join them, while the Keertana is expected to draw Araminta, Creative Thinking, Daring Duchess, Galilea, and La Manta Gris.