Ketchum goes for three in a row in turf-sprint allowance

How do we know a 3-year-old gelding named Ketchum can win a first-level turf-sprint allowance like the featured fifth race Sunday at Fair Grounds? Because he already did.

A debut turf-sprint winner at Hawthorne, Ketchum made his second start Jan. 3 at Fair Grounds, entered by owner M Bar O and trainer Chris Block for a $125,000 claiming option. A mere $13,000 auction purchase, the son of Caravaggio knifed between horses in midstretch and went on to a convincing 2 3/4-length victory under Jareth Loveberry. Loveberry retains the mount, and this time Ketchum races under allowance conditions, probably as the favorite.

While Ketchum was splitting rivals, a horse outside him, Rude Procedure, ran into a rival, clipping heels when looking for a hole and nearly going down. That Rude Procedure regained stride and got up for fourth suggests that he can give Ketchum a run for his Sunday money.

◗ The 3-year-old colt Englishman had his first breeze since mid-October when he went three furlongs at Fair Grounds on Thursday morning. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Englishman has raced only once, winning a Sept. 19 seven-furlong Churchill Downs maiden race by 7 1/4 lengths, his 97 Beyer Speed Figure tied for fourth best among 2-year-olds of 2025.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.