King: Churchill preview for Saturday, May 24
Churchill Downs preview for Saturday, May 24
War Dancer the choice in Louisville Handicap
As was the case last week, when the Keertana Stakes was run, turf marathoners are featured Saturday at Churchill Downs with the running of the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap.
The Louisville Handicap, at 1 1/2 miles for males, isn’t quite as deep and contentious as the Keertana, which was run for the females, but it still has a pretty competitive group.
War Dancer, coming off a second in the Grade 2 Elkorn at Keeneland last month, is a deserving favorite off his last-race effort, which came against a better field. Last year’s Virginia Derby winner, he is trained by Kenny McPeek, who does well with long-distance turf horses and is a two-time winner of the Louisville Handicap.
Alternatives to War Dancer if the latter dips to 2-1 odds or below, making him an underlay, are Suntracer, who ran fourth in the Elkorn, and the Forte Dei Marmi, a horse with back class but one that has been out of form of late.
Fifth race marks return of Almost Famous
Almost Famous, on the Kentucky Derby trail earlier this year, tries to get back on track after two 11th-place finishes in stakes by dropping into a second-level allowance in the fifth race. One of the more promising 2-year-olds to run at Churchill last year, he didn’t take the next step at 3, though he has had some excuses in his races. He broke poorly in the Fountain of Youth, which took him out of his game, and then last out didn’t seem to handle the Polytrack when racing in the Spiral at Turfway.
He is proven on the Churchill main track, having gone 2 for 3 at Churchill last year.
His primary foes in the fifth include the class-dropping Proud Strike, who ran fifth April 26 in the Texas Mile, and For Greater Glory, who rallied to be a distant third in a similar second-level allowance at Churchill on May 11.
Spot plays
Race 7
Saffron Hall (#1, 7-2), ran respectably to be sixth in an allowance in his first start in almost a year. He figures to be stronger following the experience and looms a win threat if able to get back to his peak form from 2013.
Race 9
Misszippityslewda (#3, 9-2) is back on her best surface, dirt, after weakening to fifth in a turf sprint; first or second in four starts on dirt with her only losses coming to Anahauc, one of the fastest female dirt sprinters in this region; Chris Landeros subs for regular rider Miguel Mena, who is riding at Evangeline Saturday night.
Early Scratches
Race 1:
# 3 Five Afleet
Race 7:
#8 Golden Soul