Laser Cat stands out on turf

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Inclement weather, more so than her five opponents, could keep Laser Cat from a trip to the winner’s circle in the third-race feature Thursday at Churchill Downs.

Favored at 7-5 on the morning line, she is a standout in the second-level, $54,000 allowance with a $62,500 claiming condition at five furlongs on turf. Laser Cat just ran second, beaten a nose, in a similar turf sprint at Keeneland on April 23.

But it seems unlikely that the race will stay on grass, with a forecast for heavy rain here Wednesday and showers lingering into Thursday.

“If it rains off, we’re going to come out,” said Laser Cat’s trainer, Tony Granitz. “We tried it once in the mud at Tampa, and that didn’t work out.”

Laser Cat weakened to be a well-beaten fourth Dec. 29 at Tampa Bay Downs, running a career-low 62 Beyer Speed Figure.

Sprinting on turf is her specialty, and she has compiled a 3-for-6 record on grass. She has won twice on wet turf courses, including over a “good” Churchill Downs course last fall.

Dylan Davis, aboard for her grass win at Churchill, has the call on Laser Cat, a 4-year-old daughter of Lion Heart owned by Calvin Johnston.

The complexion of the race changes if it is moved to dirt. Gift Receipt, Ms Hoochie Coochie, and Regal Joanne are the only entrants to have won on that surface.

Ms Hoochie Coochie seems poised to benefit from an off-the-turf scenario, having compiled a record of 1 win, 1 second, and 3 thirds in 6 races on dirt. She also is the only entrant who has run a Beyer on dirt higher than 70, having done so four times.

Ms Hoochie Coochie weakened to sixth in her last race, a second-level off-the-grass allowance at Fair Grounds on March 12. She dueled for the early lead in that race, won by next-out winner Anahauc with a 102 Beyer. The fifth-place finisher from the race, Tipthetrolleygirl, subsequently won an allowance at Keeneland.

Rosie Napravnik, tied for leading rider with Corey Lanerie with 12 victories, has the mount, her first since Derby Day. She missed last week at Churchill due to a riding suspension stemming from the disqualification of Bayern in the Derby Trial.