King's preview: Shining Copper gets nod in feature

Friday, Nov. 7, preview

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Though the turf course is firm for Friday’s races at Churchill Downs, already two horses were early scratches from the featured eighth race, a third-level allowance at a mile on grass.

Jac’s Fact (#4) and Trace Creek (#8) are out, leaving the race with just six. The aforementioned horses would have been longshots, but regardless, any scratches to an already-short field are undesirable.

SHINING COPPER (#3, 5-2) rates on top in the eighth. He won two in a row before fading to third in a $100,000 stakes race at Remington last out, a race that was tougher than normal due to being part of the Oklahoma Derby card. (Supporting stakes on big-race days always attract more shippers.)

SILVER FREAK (#1, 2-1) moves in with easier after chasing the leaders in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile before fading to 10th. He is much more effective when he can establish the pace, making his inside draw a plus to secure that position.

The race is interesting in that Shining Copper looks like the only one who has enough early speed to keep Silver Freak honest, but they can’t afford to go head-to-head throughout or risk both of them becoming vulnerable to a late finisher.

Expect jockey Brian Hernandez to keep Shining Copper on Silver Freak’s flank, applying token pressure for the first half-mile before turning up the heat.

Spot plays

Race 6: FOREVER SINCE (#8, 7-2), a stakes winner last year in a race for progeny of Texas stallions, is the class of this $15,000 claimer. She was fourth in her last two starts and might have run better in her latest at Keeneland if she had not experienced a troubled trip.

Race 10: FIVE TIMES AGAIN (#11, 8-1) comes off a runner-up finish at Indiana Grand and returns to Churchill, the home base of trainer Lon Wiggins, who gives the call to his go-to rider, Calvin Borel. Borel was up for this one's last victory over the summer at Ellis Park.

Early changes

RACE 5
Jockey Change: #8 Rigatoni, TBA

RACE 6
SCRATCH #2 My Jimmy Chew Girl

RACE 7
SCRATCH AE #6 Wild About Jack

RACE 8
SCRATCH #4 Jac's Fact
SCRATCH #8 Trace Creek

RACE 10
SCRATCH #5 Royally Outfoxed