Just Wicked tries two turns in Pocahontas

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Never underestimate the power of Churchill Downs. Its in-state rival down by the Tennessee border is giving away cash by the truckload, but can Kentucky Downs offer Win and You’re In berths toward the Breeders’ Cup or eligibility points for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks? Don’t think so. So, when the tracks present overlapping programs for the first of two straight Saturdays, it will be Churchill dangling those added incentives with the Iroquois and Pocahontas, two of four stakes on an 11-race card.

The Grade 2, $200,000 Pocahontas is the richest race of the 11-day September meet that begins Friday and the more clearly defined of the 2-year-old features, both of which go 1 1/16 miles. Just Wicked, the winner of the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga four weeks ago, will be a solid favorite under New York-based jockey Jose Ortiz to earn the Win and You’re In designation toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31.

Bred and owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Just Wicked will break from post 7 when facing seven other fillies in her fourth career start and her first around two turns.

“This was a week further out from the Spinaway, which is in our favor, and we’re eager to see how she’ll do with a little more ground,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “Untapable won this race for us [in 2013], so there are a lot of positives to giving this a try.”

Decked Out and Bold Quality, starting from posts 1 and 2, look like the chief upset threats.

The Grade 3, $150,000 Iroquois appears far deeper and features two ungraded stakes winners in Cocked and Loaded and Expected Ruler, part of a full, contentious field of 12 colts and geldings.

Cocked and Loaded, the winner of the Tremont Stakes on the eve of the Belmont Stakes, was the most precocious of the group, but the relevant issue now is whether his colleagues already have caught up with him in just a few months. Privately purchased after winning his debut at Keeneland in April, the colt was the beaten favorite in both the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga and the Arlington-Washington Futurity following his Tremont triumph.

Expected Ruler, a 47-1 winner of the Tyro Stakes on the Monmouth Park turf in his career debut, is trained by Liam Benson, a 20-year-old New Jersey native enrolled in the equine program at the University of Louisville.

The Iroquois lineup is dotted with promising colts with limited starts, including the rail-drawn Conquest Windycity, a runner-up on the Saratoga turf in his lone start.

“Everything [Conquest Windycity] did this summer was with the intention of running in the Iroquois,” said Norman Casse, son of and assistant to trainer Mark Casse.

The 2-year-old features are slotted back-to-back on a card that begins at 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the Pocahontas as race 8 and the Iroquois directly following. They anchor a terrific program that also includes the $100,000 Open Mind (race 5), the $100,000 Locust Grove (race 10), two allowances (races 2 and 7), and two maiden specials for 2-year-olds (races 6 and 11).

Pocahontas (race 8)

Key contenders

Just Wicked (Last 3 Beyers: 83-76-69)

* Got a terrific stalking trip in taking the Adirondack, giving her a 2-for-2 mark at Saratoga. There is very little to knock, style-wise or otherwise.

* She’s yet another in the seemingly limitless supply of burgeoning Tapit/Winchell/Asmussen stars, the same group that gave you Untapable, Tapiture, Tapizar, and more.

Bold Quality (Last Beyer: 64)

* Elusive Quality filly gets Paco Lopez and first-time Lasix after a sharp victory last month in her career debut at Parx.

“She’s a lean, mean, fighting machine, and two turns should be right up her alley,” said trainer Kelly Breen, who will be in from New Jersey by way of the Keeneland sales.

Iroquois (race 9)

Key contenders

Cocked and Loaded (Last 3 Beyers: 63-68-79)

* At best, tepid favoritism awaits him, given how shaky his form has been post-Belmont, but he still is a proven commodity, as opposed to some of these other unknowns. He ships down from Chicago for Larry Rivelli, who has dominated the Arlington Park meet.

Expected Ruler (Last Beyer: 79)

* A family-bred and -owned son of Leroidesanimaux, he survived a stewards’ inquiry following his Tyro surprise and will be looking to prove he was no fluke when trying a new distance and surface.