Layoff horses in focus for Churchill allowances
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A 10-race Sunday card at Churchill Downs lacks a stakes race, but horseplayers surely won’t mind. After all, four allowances with six-figure purses and competitive fields are on tap.
Races 5, 6, 8, and 9 are the highlights of an excellent program starting at 12:45 p.m. Eastern. Purses range from $127,000 to $134,000, including Kentucky-bred bonuses, and all are included in the 20-cent Derby City 6 jackpot wager (races 5-10).
Two of the co-features will be run on the new turf course with the inner rail set 36 feet out. Rainy weather earlier this week led to turf races being moved to the main track Thursday and Friday, but sunshine and warmer temperatures were expected throughout the Memorial Day weekend.
Here’s a quick rundown of the four Sunday allowances:
Race 5
Lovemesomeme is the X factor in a field of eight fillies and mares in this second-level allowance race at seven furlongs, returning from a layoff of nearly a year. The 4-year-old Paynter filly was terrific in back-to-back wins here last spring for Rocket Ship Racing of Brook Smith.
“She may need a start,” said Smith, “but the time we’ve given her has proven great for her. Patience is learned in this business – and generally rewarded.”
Lovemesomeme will break from post 1 with Recoded, Honorifique, and Well Spent as the main opposition.
Race 6
Another layoff horse, Signify, looks like a major player in a second-level turf sprint that will have no more than seven fillies and mares in the gate, assuming turf racing is a go. Trained by Rudy Brisset, the 5-year-old mare was on a steady improve throughout 2021 before making her most recent start in mid-October.
Thunder Love, getting first Lasix while facing older rivals for the first time, is the sleeper of the group following a better-than-looked effort last month in her U.S. debut in the Limestone at Keeneland.
Race 8
This first-level allowance for 3-year-olds going six furlongs is one of the deepest of the day, with five of the eight entries likely to attract solid play, those being My Crazy Neighbor, Burninhunkoflove, Momentous, and the uncoupled Steve Asmussen duo of Smokin Willie and Raymond.
My Crazy Neighbor, a debut winner in late March at Gulfstream Park, might deserve extra attention, considering that his trainer, Ian Wilkes, wins infrequently with first-time starters.
Race 9
An oversubscribed lineup of fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles under a first-level condition figures to have Flown as a solid favorite after the daughter of Kitten’s Joy was beaten just a nose for this same condition last month on the Keeneland turf. Tyler Gaffalione, the leading jockey at the 44-day spring meet, has the call for Brendan Walsh.
Texas Shuffle, third in the same April 15 race, looks like the top threat. Only as many as 10 can start because of the narrower course.