King's preview: To turf, or not to turf

Friday, May 9 preview

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - By 11 a.m., light rain had fallen for a half-hour or so at Churchill Downs, and with the threat of more later today, that could affect the main track condition and whether the turf course is used.

Three early scratches: take #2 Zac Benate out of the second race and #2 Kowboy Tuff and #3 Explosive Ben out of the fourth.

The scratch of Kowboy Tuff, who seemed a standout in the fourth, turns that race into much more of a competitive contest, with Tyler T and Baumgartner now being the selections in that order.

A couple notable stakes fillies compete in allowances on the 10-race card, beginning with the third race, a sprint in which the stakes-placed Gold Medal Dancer (#5) is in a short field in an allowance going seven furlongs. Then in the ninth the graded-placed Marathon Lady (#6) kicks off her year in a first-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles.

A value play looms in the second race with Cat’s Destiny (#6). Although he could not keep up with classier $16,000 claimers last out at Keeneland, fading to seventh after chasing the leaders, he lands in a more suitable $7,500 claimer in this race. He is a winner on dirt as well as Poly, suggesting he should avoid regression with the surface switch.

Those looking for a horse to single in multi-race exotics are advised to focus on Kamchatka (#5) in the seventh. He makes his third start of his form cycle after a third-place finish, and drops in class.

A decision on races staying on the grass or coming off likely won’t be made until later in the day

Under either scenario the versatile La Bruna Forte (#8) is the choice to win the eighth race, a maiden race.

Finally in the last, the 10th, Grand Arch (#7) is the selection for turf, with Evan's Calling (#3) and main-track-only entrant The Best Glacier (#12) the ones most likely to benefit from an off-the-grass scenario.