King's preview: Strong card with four stakes

After a ho-hum start to the meet Friday, with short fields and low-quality racing, Churchill Downs has an exciting four-stakes card on tap for Saturday, with the two stakes for 2-year-olds, the Iroquois and Pocahontas, being particularly good betting races.

The Ack Ack

The first of the stakes, the Ack Ack goes as the fourth on the card due to drawing only five entrants, which takes away much of the race’s wagering appeal. Nevertheless, there are some good horses in the small group.

The speedy Bradester (#5) is the choice, having run Beyer Speed Figures of 108 and 100 in his last two starts at Monmouth while chasing quality opposition. To win, though, he likely will have to avoid dueling with Right to Vote (#2), or Carve (#3) may end up running him down.

Carve isn’t as fast as Bradester on speed figures, but he simply finds ways to win, recording three straight victories, with the last two coming in stakes.

The Locus Grove

The ungraded Locus Grove drew a better field than what one might think for a $100,000 purse due to On Fire Baby (#3) and Molly Morgan (#7) being locally based fillies whose trainers want to prep them for month’s Grade 1 Spinster.

Millionaire and two-time Grade 1 winner On Fire Baby, freshened after a flat performance in the Fleur de Lis when fifth of six, is seemingly the top mare in the race and should win with a return to form.

Molly Morgan’s best isn’t as good as On Fire Baby’s, but Molly Morgan has the benefit of a recent race, having just won the Gardenia at Ellis Park.

The Iroquois

Spot Play: Bold Conquest (#8, 4-1): He gamely broke his maiden at Saratoga after a runner-up finish there to begin his career and is bred to stretch out to a route, being by Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin. This horse, like Curlin, is trained by Steve Asmussen, who is typically the most dominant trainer of 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs in the fall.

The Pocahontas

Spot Play: Pangburn (#5, 9-2) scored going two turns on grass in his debut at Ellis Park, defeating next-out winners Dark Rain and Five Hearts. Trainer Ken McPeek then sent her to Saratoga, but rather than go in the P.G. Johnson there on turf, he opts to run in this more prestigious Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies prep instead. I like the confidence shown there.

HORSE TO WATCH

Fioretti
Trainer: Anthony Hamilton
Last race: Sept. 5, 8th
Finish: 2nd by 3 3/4
Beyer: 70
Returning from 2 1/2-month layoff on opening night, this filly put away the other speed, 2-1 second choice Swept Up, and outran her odds to hold second at 29-1. For a seven-furlong race, the pace was likely to take a toll. She ought to fare better in a shorter first-level allowance on dirt, particularly if able to have an easier time on the lead.

EARLY SCRATCHES AND CHANGES

RACE 6
JOCKEY CHANGE: #6 Not Again Nancye, Didiel A. Osorio
SCRATCH #8 Little Norwegian

RACE 8
SCRATCH #2 Tapit's World

RACE 11
SCRATCH #10 Striker Ace