King's review: Chalk dominates

Tuesday, April 29 recap

Following two dark days after Saturday night’s opener, racing returned to Churchill Tuesday, and short-priced horses won most of the races. Seven of the 10 winners Tuesday went off at odds of 2.10-1 or shorter, in part due to short fields. Just one race had more than eight horses.

The quick-drying Churchill surface was fast, although the two scheduled turf races were moved to the main track due to heavy rain the preceding day and overnight.

Horses running over outside paths fared best, and as this trend continued during the day, jockeys took notice, and even those on front-runners mostly kept their horses well off the fence.

There was just one wire-to-wire winner among the 10 races, Honey Hues, who took advantage of the featured ninth race allowance being moved to the main track. She spurted clear to an uncontested lead, and once turned loose by jockey James Graham at the top of the stretch, left favored Awesome Flower seven lengths behind.

Honey’s Hues raced 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.84, a fast time that earned her a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.

It was the second fastest figure of the day, trailing the 99 Tarpy’s Goal ran in winning the second race, which was for $50,000 claimers, with a mile in 1:35.36.

Rosie Napravnik won three races Tuesday – on Paden in the first, Tres Belle in the third, and Simply Spicy in the last – her second consecutive three-win day at Churchill. Through two days of racing, she leads the standings with Corey Lanerie in second with three wins.

Quick starts are a key to a jockey’s success at a meet, as horsemen seek out the hot rider. But her momentum could be slowed after the Derby. Steward Rick Leigh said Tuesday that she will serve a suspension of four racing days at Churchill following the Derby.

She was suspended for her role in the disqualification of Bayern in last Saturday’s Derby Trial. Bayern drifted out under left-handed urging from Napravnik, carrying out Embellishing Bob.

Horse to Watch

Primed for Passion
Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard
Last race: April 29, 9th
Finish: 3rd by 16
Beyer: 68

Was a non-factor in an off-the-turf contest, though she did pass a few horses to grab third. The race served its purpose of advancing her fitness and should leave her ready for a good effort down the road if Sheppard opts to send her to Presque Isle, which has a synthetic Tapeta surface she loves.