Keeneland: Testa Rossi stands out in Ashland Stakes
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Blame it on the Poly. This might be the last time in a while that a winner of the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes will turn down what is rightfully hers – that is, more than enough points to make the Kentucky Oaks field.
That assumes, of course, that the turf standout Testa Rossi will come through as the likely favorite Saturday, when the $500,000 Ashland is run for the 77th time at Keeneland. In the nearly eight years since Polytrack was installed here, horsemen and fans alike have come to favor turf form over dirt form in these kinds of races. And with Keeneland having announced this week that dirt will return to the main surface in the fall, such a stilted scenario is the proverbial lame duck.
“I seriously doubt we’d consider the Oaks if we won,” said Chad Brown, who trains Testa Rossi for Thomas Coleman and James Covello. “She’s just never given me the impression she’d be nearly as good on dirt as she is on the grass.”[bc_video_id:320418:]
Testa Rossi, with Jose Lezcano to ride, will break from post 6 among 13 3-year-old fillies in the 1 1/16-mile Ashland, the ninth of 10 races on a Saturday card that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Post time for the Ashland is 5:22.
Testa Rossi, a French import by Dr Fong, clearly is the most accomplished filly in the field. She made a spectacular rally last fall in her North American debut in the Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont before holding on to win by a nose, after which she finished a sharp-closing second from well behind in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Given four months between races, she returned to action four weeks ago with a cruising victory in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs.
“Obviously, we have high hopes for her later in the year,” Brown said. “Whatever happens here, probably our next main objective will be the Belmont Oaks,” a new $1 million turf race July 5 at Belmont Park.
If Testa Rossi is to be denied Saturday, there are a number of logical candidates to pull that mild upset.
Room Service (post 2, Shaun Bridgmohan) was an impressive last-out winner of the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes on the Gulfstream Park turf and, like many horses in the Wayne Catalano stable, arrived here early to train over the Polytrack surface.
“She really looked great winning that last one, and hopefully she’ll step up again,” said Catalano, who already has one Oaks filly in Aurelia’s Belle.
Rosalind (post 8, Joel Rosario) has just one career win but otherwise sports a fine record. The chestnut filly ran creditably when earning checks in three straight Grade 1 races – the Alcibiades, the BC Juvenile Fillies, and the Hollywood Starlet – but trainer Ken McPeek obviously is looking for her to fare better than she did in her Feb. 27 seasonal debut at Gulfstream, when a disappointing fourth in a first-level allowance.
Candy Kitty (post 9, Edgar Prado) is one of two Todd Pletcher fillies in the field, along with Seeking Her Glory (post 12, Rosie Napravnik). Candy Kitty was the favorite when second behind Room Service in the Herecomesthebride after coming to form with back-to-back triumphs prior to that.
On the Backstreets (post 4, Robby Albarado), trained by Peter Miller, is the lone West Coast shipper and a viable threat if her Santa Anita turf form translates well to the local Polytrack.
Rounding out the Ashland lineup are Istanford, Macaroon, Thank You Marylou, Miss Besilu, Ireland, Saturday Bliss, and Resistivity.
The Ashland, first run in 1936, long has been a key prep for the Kentucky Oaks, set for May 2 at Churchill Downs. In this second year with a points system in place to govern eligibility into the 14-horse Oaks field, the Ashland is worth 170 points on a 100-40-20-10 scale.
Polytrack races at 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland begin and end at what otherwise is the 16th pole.
A huge crowd is expected here Saturday, with many patrons attired in blue to support the Kentucky Wildcats in their bid for another NCAA basketball title. In fact, many fans probably will leave before the Ashland to watch the first of the Final Four semifinals, which is set for 6:09. Kentucky faces Wisconsin in the second game at 8:50.
Following showers Friday, the forecast for Saturday calls for clearing skies and a high of 57 degrees.