King's review: War Dancer proves best in Louisville Handicap

War Dancer outfinishes Suntracer

As War Dancer and Suntracer hit mid-stretch in Saturday’s Grade 3 Louisville Handicap, it seemed the latter held the advantage. A closer, Suntracer was motoring on the outside down the Churchill Downs stretch and even poked his head in front over War Dancer at the eighth pole.

Then it turned into a test of determination – one that War Dancer passed. He battled back under Alan Garcia to notch a head victory over Suntracer, who has now lost 12 straight races.

“I got nervous for a second, but when my horse spotted him on the outside, I felt him dig in, and that’s when I knew I had more horse,” Garcia said.

War Dancer gave trainer Kenny McPeek his third victory in the Louisville Handicap. He raced 1 1/2 miles on a turf course that played quickly in a stakes record 1:28.23, a time that produced a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

Rosie wins five

Jockey Rosie Napravnik won five races Saturday, the most wins by a female rider in a single day at Churchill. The record had been held by Donna Barton Brothers, who rode four winners June 28, 1996.

Her winners were Determined Yankee in the second, Ariadna in the third, Quiet Force in the fourth, Saffron Hall in the seventh, and Tres Belle in the ninth.

Her five-win day left her with a clear lead in the jockey standings, having won 21 races to Corey Lanerie’s 16. This lead comes despite her missing a week due to a riding suspension and her being away last Friday and Saturday to ride at Pimlico.

Almost Famous looks like his old self

Almost Famous looked like one of the top young horses in this region when he won 2 of 3 starts as a 2-year-old at Churchill last fall, and he showed similar promise Saturday in dominating five older horses in a second-level allowance that went as the fifth race.

Under confident handling from Calvin Borel, he broke alertly, set a modest pace, and drew off to win by 7 3/4 lengths under minimal urging. He ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.63, which earned him a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

The colt, who fell off the Derby Trail this spring following a couple rear-half finishes in graded company, is fond of the Churchill strip and is tough to catch when he can control the pace, as he did Saturday.

The Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill on Stephen Foster night, June 14, is his next objective.

Horse to watch

BAILOUTBOBBY
Trainer: Conor Murphy
Last race: May 24, 4th
Finish: 2nd by 1 3/4

He ran well for the second straight time on the Churchill grass, finishing second to Quiet Force in the faster of two first-level allowances run Saturday at 1 1/8 miles. He was in traffic for much of the race and closed well once clear. Back in a similar spot, he ought to be tough to beat.