King Fury shows love for Churchill in Bourbon Trail romp

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – King Fury ran such a huge race in winning the inaugural Bourbon Trail by 13 lengths on Saturday at Churchill that trainer Ken McPeek couldn’t help but think back about how the colt had to be scratched from the May 1 Kentucky Derby.

“It really was unfortunate timing,” McPeek said Sunday from Ireland in regard to the minor illness that forced King Fury to miss the Derby.

The 1 3/16-mile Bourbon Trail was the fourth start, and first at Churchill, for King Fury since the scratch. In romping as a 1-2 favorite, he earned a career-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure in upping his Churchill record to 3 for 4.

“He absolutely loves the track,” said McPeek, adding the Curlin colt goes next in the Grade 2 Fayette on Oct. 30, closing day of the Keeneland fall meet. “After that, we’d go back in the Clark” on Nov. 26 at Churchill.

:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures

McPeek said he and his wife, Sherri, are attending horse sales and visiting with family while staying overseas for a week or so. He won’t be here Friday, when his next stakes runner also figures as a heavy favorite – Crazy Beautiful, one of seven 3-year-old fillies in the $160,000 Seneca.

The Bourbon Trail was one of three stakes for 3-year-olds here Saturday. Carribean Caper, a 2-5 favorite, won the 45th Dogwood by six lengths, earning a 90 Beyer, to stay unbeaten in five career starts, while Everett’s Song (89 Beyer) was a 12-1 winner of its male counterpart at seven furlongs, the Harrods Creek.

Letruska on the work tab

Letruska, the leader of the filly-mare dirt division, had her first workout since she won the Aug. 28 Personal Ensign, breezing a half-mile Saturday in 47.40 seconds at Keeneland. Trainer Fausto Gutierrez said the 5-year-old mare probably will breeze again this coming weekend in preparing for the Oct. 10 Spinster, her final prep up to the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar.

◗ Jockey Mitchell Murrill will miss Thursday through Saturday while serving a three-day suspension stemming from the disqualification of his mount, Florida Gator, from first to third in the third race Sept. 19. Otherwise, it’s been another solid meet for Murrill, with his five wins from 29 mounts equating to a $2.56 ROI for every $2 bet. Murrill also had a positive ROI ($2.13) at the spring meet.

◗ Famed, a 2-year-old half-sister to Essential Quality, had a solid debut Sunday finishing second to a 45-1 winner, Sweet Dani Girl, who also was making her first start. Sweet Dani Girl, a homebred trained by Carlo Vaccarezza, rallied to win by a length over Famed, the 9-10 favorite.

◗ Sir Alfred James was claimed for $62,500 by owner-trainer Norman Cash in a nine-way shake after the 5-year-old gelding got a 103 Beyer in winning a six-furlong allowance Friday in a swift 1:08. Sir Alfred James had four wins and three seconds in his first 12 starts for trainer Al Stall Jr.

◗ Heading into the final four-day stretch of the September meet, Tyler Gaffalione has an 11-10 lead over Brian Hernandez Jr. atop the jockey standings, while McPeek has a 6-4 lead over Steve Asmussen among trainers.