Lookin for Loki should appreciate outside post in Walker
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Weather could be a factor in how the opening-night feature of the Churchill Downs spring meet plays out, but jockey Mitch Murrill is glad about one thing – his mount, Lookin for Loki, stands a better chance with the outside post he was assigned for the $125,000 William Walker.
“With his style of running, I’d prefer to be outside,” said Murrill, who has ridden Lookin for Loki in all but two of the gelding’s 10 career starts.
When breaking from post 1 in the Palisades Turf Sprint on April 2 at Keeneland, Lookin for Loki mostly struggled before finishing fifth. Lookin for Loki, already a three-time winner for trainer Chris Hartman, was assigned post 10 in an oversubscribed field of 3-year-olds in the Walker, scheduled to be run at 5 1/2 furlongs over turf as the ninth of 10 races on the evening card. First post is 6 p.m. Eastern, with the Walker going at 10:11 and the last race at 10:42.
With rain in the Saturday forecast, it’s quite possible the Walker could be moved to the main track as Churchill officials seek to protect the turf course ahead of more important races on Kentucky Derby weekend. Either way, Lookin for Loki and quite a few of his opponents could be okay.
“My horse keeps fighting,” said Murrill, referring not only to a hard-earned turf victory at Fair Grounds in January, but his next-out score over the Fair Grounds slop a few weeks later. “He and Field Day hooked up a long way and had some pretty good duels.”
Field Day (post 3, Tyler Gaffalione) also is among the top threats in a well-matched feature, regardless of surface. Trained by Brad Cox for owner-breeder Richard Klein, the Broken Vow gelding has never been worse than third in six starts.
Wesley Ward, the leading trainer at the Keeneland meet that ended Friday, has a trio of possible starters in Roderick, Next, and Into the Sunrise, with the latter named being relegated to an also-eligibles list that also includes Charles Chrome. Past performances for both Roderick (post 1) and Next (post 2) suggest they could stand to benefit from the race being moved to the main track.
As with all stakes in Kentucky this year, no starter will be treated with the bleeder medication Lasix.