King's preview: Turf races moved to main track

Friday, Oct. 31, preview

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Morning rain has resulted in the scheduled turf races at Churchill on Friday being moved to the main track. And as a result of the surface switch, the fifth race’s distance has been changed from 1 3/8 miles to 1 1/4 miles.

The early changes are posted at the bottom of this piece, but suspect more scratches will come later in the day, so stay tuned to live.drf.com for updates.

The weather out of the way, Churchill has a good feature on tap for a Friday, the Dream Supreme overnight stakes for female sprinters. SPEEDINTHRUTHECITY (#9, 9-5) likely will go favored, coming off a fourth in a Grade 2 at Keeneland and having a 3-for-4 record at Churchill.

The value-based choice of this horseplayer is SWEET CASSIOPEIA (#3, 3-1), an honest and versatile veteran who regularly fires whether she’s racing on dirt, turf, or synthetic. Most recently, she was third in the Franklin County at Keeneland, a turf sprint, losing to a pair of top-notch fillies in Free as a Bird and Ageless.

ANAHAUC (#6) has been scratched. She is entered Saturday in the Grade 2 Chilukki.

Spot plays

Race 3: OH MY DAR (#7, 12-1) earned a respectable 45 Beyer Speed Figure first out with a seventh against straight maidens when sprinting and then was too keen when placed on the turf and faded after chasing fast splits in a route. She seems suited to a cutback in distance to run seven furlongs on dirt vs. maiden $30,000 stock.

Race 9: OCEAN BERTIE (#1, 8-1) has fine form in high-priced claimers and allowances. Racing 1 1/16 miles on the dirt with a short run to the first turn, she is well drawn on the fence with Shaun Bridgmohan up.

Race 10: MYSTERIOUS CIRCLE (#8, 7-2) rallied to be second Sept. 28 for $7,500 and was claimed by high-percentage owner Maggi Moss. This one doesn't face much better here for $15,000 and holds a figure edge.

Early changes

Race 4
#6 Sky High Bertie, scratched

Race 5
OFF TURF - Distance changed from 1 3/8 miles to 1 1/4 miles.

Race 7
OFF TURF
#2 Mio Me, Scratched
#3 Anita Partner (IRE), Scratched
#6 Cheesecake, Scratched
#10 Aniell, Scratched
#11 Apres Ski, Scratched
#14 Black Butterfly, Scratched

Race 8
#6 Anahauc, Scratched

Race 10
#3 Will It Thunder, Scratched
#4 Wildwoodsgreatest, Scratched