Important race for Bwana Charlie

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Based on class, it's difficult to get past Bwana Charlie in Saturday's $100,000 Alysheba Breeders' Cup for 3-year-old sprinters at Lone Star Park. A big performance in the race could advance the colt to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint here on Oct. 30, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.

The Alysheba has been shortened from seven furlongs to six to serve as a prep for the BC Sprint. Bwana Charlie is one of seven horses in the Alysheba, which also drew Kentucky shippers Danieltown and Scat Sam Man.

is a two-time graded stakes winner, with his biggest score coming in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga on Aug. 7. He earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 106 for his three-quarter-length win over Pomeroy.

In his next race, Bwana Charlie ran fourth to Pomeroy at 8-1 in the Grade 1 King's Bishop, also at Saratoga, on Aug. 28. He will be shortening up from seven furlongs on Saturday.

"The best race for him was the Amsterdam at three-quarters," said Asmussen.

Bwana Charlie, who has shown versatility in his races, could get a nice stalking trip from post 6.

"When he leaves there relaxed and gets his feet under him and punches home, I think those are his best races," said Asmussen.

Bwana Charlie races for Heiligbrodt Racing Stable.

Danieltown figures to set the pace from his rail post. He will be moving back to his best surface, the dirt, after racing on turf last out in an overnight handicap at Ellis Park. He set the pace in that race and finished fourth. The second-place finisher, Level Playingfield, returned in his next start to win the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Sprint.

Danieltown won the $50,000 Golden Circle at Prairie Meadows in April. His best Beyer Figure is a 107, earned when he won an entry-level allowance at Turfway Park in January. Jamie Theriot has the mount on Danieltown for Stonerside Stable and trainer Bernie Flint.

Spiel Meister and Aggie Grit figure to push Danieltown, while Scat Sam Man won't be far back. In his last start Scat Sam Man wired the field in an optional claimer at Ellis for trainer Tom Amoss. Calvin Borel has the mount on the colt, who is shooting for his fourth straight win on Saturday.