King's review: Albarado moves up in jockey standings

Big day for Albarado

Robby Albarado scored three wins Friday on Churchill’s 10-race card, taking the third on Oh Wise One, the fifth on Poppy’s Dream, and the ninth on Sassy Kiss.

His three-win day moved him into third place in the jockey standings with 10 victories for the meet. He trails leader Corey Lanerie with 14 and Rosie Napravnik with 12.

Napravnik didn’t ride Friday at Churchill due to mounts at Pimlico on Black-Eyed Susan Day. She is also there Saturday for Preakness Day.

Metz lights up board in nightcap

Metz, dismissed at 62-1, pulled off the upset in the 10th and final race Friday, and as is so often the case with such longshots, there was not a lot to like about the horse’s form coming into the race. He had just run sixth at Mountaineer Park.

Unless you were playing names, he was hard to back. And even Equibase chartcaller Matthew Metz, didn’t do that. Bill Downes, subbing for regular announce Larry Collmus this week, tweeted shortly after the race that Matthew Metz didn’t “have a nickel on him!”

Casse has loaded bench of babies

Trainer Mark Casse, who won a pair of 2-year-old races at Keeneland last month with Skyway and Conquest Titan, trained another baby winner to victory in the opener Friday at Churchill.

The Casse-trained Sky Bistro came from just off the pace to win comfortably in a five-horse field under Stewart Elliott. His winning time was just 1:00.17 for five furlongs.

Horse to Watch

Act of Heroism
Trainer: Wayne Catalano
Last race: May 16, 4th
Finish: 3rd by 3 1/2
Beyer: NA

He moved forward in his second start, running an even third in a fast maiden contest. Still lightly raced, he has a right to keep getting better and likely has more upside than many older maidens at this time of year.