Layoffs no problem for quartet of stakes winners

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Four of the five stakes winners Saturday were making their first start of the year, and all are headed next for graded races.

Besides Maxfield (95 Beyer) in the Matt Winn, those other layoff winners were Dunbar Road, a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in the Shawnee; Sharing, an 84 Beyer in the Tepin; and Owendale, a 99 Beyer in the Blame. Smooth Like Strait, who got a 95 Beyer in winning the War Chant, had gone unraced since Feb. 29.

Trainer Chad Brown said Monday he was unsure whether Dunbar Road will remain at Churchill with his assistant Whit Beckman for the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis on closing day of the spring meet, June 27.

“Either that, or I may stretch her out in the Delaware Handicap,” a 1 1/4-mile race on July 11 at Delaware Park, Brown said.

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Trainer Graham Motion said Sharing remains possible for a run next month at the Royal Ascot meet, but if not, she could go next in the June 20 Wonder Again at Belmont. Sharing was making her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last November.

Owendale, whose searing late run nailed Everfast and Silver Dust, goes next in the June 27 Stephen Foster, trainer Brad Cox said.

Plans are uncertain for Smooth Like Strait, although a graded turf race for 3-year-olds is likely, trainer Michael McCarthy said.

Besides the five stakes, the Saturday card also included an $88,741 turf allowance that drew eight graded winners. Spooky Channel, winner of the Grade 3 McKnight at Gulfstream in January, was up in the final jumps to beat Parlor.

Short-timers N.Y.-bound

The coming four-day week will be the last for a handful of star jockeys to ride regularly at this meet. With Belmont set to reopen June 3, John Velazquez, Joel Rosario, Jose Ortiz, and Javier Castellano all will head home to New York after the Sunday card.

“New York is home for my family and me,” Castellano said. “I’m thankful Churchill was able to open early and let us ride here.”

During the first six Churchill cards (through Sunday), the New York foursome combined for 15 wins and more than $1 million in mount earnings.

◗ A pair of Grade 3, $100,000 stakes for fillies and mares will be run Saturday at Churchill. The Cox duo of Beau Recall and Juliet Foxtrot are among the favorites for the Mint Julep at 1 1/16 miles on turf, while Spiced Perfection, Mia Mischief, and Break Even are among the notables expected for a terrific renewal of the Winning Colors at six furlongs. Entries were drawn Monday.

◗ Lessons From Avery ($149.20) became the longest-priced winner of the meet when he rallied under Rafael Bejarano in a Sunday turf allowance. Charlie LoPresti trains the 5-year-old mare.

◗ Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the all-time winningest owners at Churchill, were represented by their 500th winner under the twin spires when Spanned ($6.20) captured the third race Sunday.