Laugh Track will have to overcome inside post in Commonwealth
LEXINGTON, Ky. – It can be fairly said that the Commonwealth Stakes has not been a shining beacon on the Keeneland stakes schedule in recent years.
Once the domain of such top sprinter-milers as Distorted Humor, Richter Scale, and Orientate, the Commonwealth has tended to draw small fields while undergoing a purse decrease and being downgraded a peg to a Grade 3.
But the graph just took a positive jump, as a lineup of 12 older horses should make for an exciting renewal and a terrific wagering event when the $175,000 Commonwealth kicks off stakes action as the first of five straight graded events here Saturday.[bc_video_id:320990:]
Laugh Track, the runner-up in the Phoenix and Breeders’ Cup Sprint last fall, will break from the rail with Jose Lezcano aboard as the likely favorite in the seven-furlong Polytrack race, although trainer Mark Casse was only cautiously optimistic about the horse’s chances.
“We’re really excited to run him back over the Poly,” said Casse, “except in his last start, he drew the 1 hole, and it was a killer,” a reference to the Feb. 8 Gulfstream Park Sprint. “I’m not sure how he’ll be able to maneuver out of there this time, but we’ll give it a shot.”
One of the chief threats is Undrafted (post 5, John Velazquez), a flashy maiden winner here two years ago for Wesley Ward.
“He’s really working well over this track, and I expect him to come out firing,” Ward said.
Other considerations include Dimension, the winner of the Grade 2 Play the King last summer at Woodbine; Spring to the Sky, heretofore primarily a turf sprinter for the New York-based Bruce Brown but now making an intriguing move to the synthetic; and Longhunter, who earned big figures in two recent turf wins at Gulfstream Park for Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Mike Maker.
The Commonwealth is the seventh of 12 races, with post time set for 3:40 p.m. Eastern.
No clear favorite in Shakertown
The Grade 3, $100,000 Shakertown (race 8, 4:11) is a similarly compelling race, with no clear favorite in a field of 13 older turf sprinters.
Havelock is one of the likely favorites, if for no other reason than that the 7-year-old gelding has won a remarkable 4 of 5 starts over the local turf, including a victory in this race last spring. Trainer Darrin Miller has been pointing Havelock to the Shakertown all winter at Tampa Bay Downs.
Other players include Hogy, an ultra-versatile winner of more than half his career starts and $571,402; Gantry, the leading earner in the field with $816,245; and California invader No Silent, who drew a call from Javier Castellano.