Lord Nelson leads juveniles looking to emerge in Kentucky Jockey Club
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – This is the 10th year for the Stars of Tomorrow card at Churchill Downs. Arguments on behalf of its success can be summarized by this list of past participants: Rachel Alexandra, Super Saver, Fort Larned, Shackleford, Will Take Charge, and Believe You Can.
Whether there is another budding superstar among the 154 2-year-olds (including 24 also-eligibles) on the 12-race Stars of Tomorrow card Saturday will not be known for a while, but in the meantime, fans really should enjoy this latest iteration. An exciting program filled with competitive allowance and maiden races is highlighted by twin Grade 2 stakes, the Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod, both of which drew outstanding fields of 12.
The $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club has viable contenders in abundance, with more than half the field logically capable of victory. Lord Nelson is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Peachtree Stable and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, but the colt must show he can handle this greater depth of competition and the 1 1/16-mile distance.
Baffert, who will watch from California, said Peachtree Stable manager John Fort “wants to go to the Kentucky Derby badly. The horse will go long. He’s fast and will get better with age.”
Martin Garcia will be in to ride Lord Nelson when breaking from post 9.
:: DRF Live: Get real-time updates and insights from DRF reporters and handicappers on Saturday
Among the other colts looking to bolster their classics hopes in this 88th running of the Kentucky Jockey Club are the three-pronged John Oxley and Mark Casse contingent of Sky Hero, Moonlight Bandit, and Flashaway; New York invaders El Kabeir and Imperia; Iroquois Stakes winner Lucky Player; and Grey Stakes winner International Star.
Both the Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod are points races (10 to the winner) toward the 2015 Kentucky Derby and Oaks, respectively.
First post Saturday is 12:40 p.m. Eastern, with the Golden Rod (race 9) going at 4:35 and the Jockey Club (race 11) an hour later. The Kentucky-Louisville college football rivalry game is set for a noon kickoff at nearby Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, so hundreds of fans clad in red or blue will be arriving here late.
Early arrivals are advised to use the Taylor Boulevard approach to the track. Fans can watch the game on the plaza video board, TV monitors around the track, or between races on the big board.
The fall meet closes Sunday with Fan Appreciation Day. Turfway Park begins its holiday meet Dec. 4.
Key contenders
Lord Nelson (Last 3 Beyers: 92-90-72)
* Pulpit colt is a $340,000 yearling purchase and showed great promise from the outset, winning a Del Mar maiden race before finishing fourth in the Grade 1 FrontRunner in September and dominating an ungraded sprint stakes at Santa Anita last month.
* Baffert won back-to-back runnings of the Kentucky Jockey Club with Exploit (1998) and Captain Steve (1999) but hasn’t run all that many in this race in the intervening years.
Sky Hero (Last 3 Beyers: 79-74-67)
* Outfooted stablemate Flashaway in leading a one-two Casse finish in a key Nov. 8 allowance designed as a Kentucky Jockey Club prep for both. Homebred colt’s tactical speed, rail draw, and retention of Julien Leparoux all can help the cause.
* Oxley and Casse won the 2012 Kentucky Jockey Club with Uncaptured, who went on to earn more than $1 million.
Eagle (Last 3 Beyers: 78-78-46)
* This W.S. Farish homebred son of Candy Ride showed his wares in an Oct. 22 allowance triumph around two turns at Keeneland, but he must show he’s able in what obviously is his toughest test to date.
“He was a little bit too much on his bicycle early on,” said trainer Neil Howard. “But he’s settled down, and he’s gotten better and better with everything that he does with each start.”
International Star (Last 3 Beyers: 74-66-75)
* A New York-bred colt owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, this colt figures to do his running from the back when switching surfaces after an autumn on turf and synthetics.
* The Ramseys, the all-time leading owners at Churchill, with more than 400 local wins, are right in the thick of things for another meet title as closing day approaches.
El Kabeir (Last 3 Beyers: 84-74-93)
* Gray Florida-bred colt with the high Beyer Speed Figure (93) in the lineup was withheld from the Remsen to run here instead, with trainer John Terranova reaching out for three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel.
* Will race with blinkers off, an angle from which Terranova shows a 27 percent strike rate and a $2.85 return on investment from limited attempts.
Lucky Player (Last 3 Beyers: 75-83-75)
* Clearly was overmatched at 43-1 when no factor in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but he is 2 for 3 over his home surface, including a gutsy score in the Grade 3 Iroquois in September.
* Trainer Steve Asmussen and assistant Scott Blasi have won the Kentucky Jockey Club three times since the inaugural Stars of Tomorrow card in 2005, including last year with Tapiture.