Lubash, Kharafa renew rivalry in Ashley T. Cole

New York-bred grass runners are in the spotlight Sunday for the stakes doubleheader of the Ashley T. Cole and the John Hettinger. Both are $125,000 events scheduled for the inner turf at 1 1/8 miles and serve as stepping-stones to the Mohawk and Ticonderoga stakes, respectively, on New York Showcase Day. The Cole is for 3-year-olds and up, and the Hettinger is for fillies and mares.

Kharafa and Lubash have combined to win the last three runnings of the Cole, and in the absence of King Kreesa, who is awaiting the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 3, chances are good one of them will win again.

Trained by Christophe Clement, Lubash was second by a head to Kharafa in 2013, otherwise the 8-year-old horse would be shooting for a fourth straight Cole.

Lubash, who earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 100 in winning last year’s renewal, seeks his fourth straight victory after taking the Kingston Stakes, an allowance race, and his second consecutive West Point Stakes.

“He’s just such a classy, unbelievable horse,” said Junior Alvarado, who has been aboard for seven of Lubash’s last eight wins and rides on Sunday. “He makes my job easy.”

Kharafa has been favored in all four of his starts this season, including wins against open company in an allowance race at Keeneland and the Elkwood at his home base of Monmouth Park.

“He has been training here since he was a 2-year-old, and [the Elkwood] is the first time we ran him at Monmouth,” said trainer Tim Hills. “He just knows how to get to the wire first.”

Realistically, the only entrant with a chance to knock off the two favorites is Iron Power. The probable pacesetter, he has won once from five starts since being transferred to Clement and gets some class relief after leading through the first mile of the Grade 2 Bowling Green.

Ashley T. Cole (Race 3)

Key contenders

Kharafa (Last 3 Beyers: 76-95-96)

* Exits a troubled trip in the Grade 3 Oceanport when checked entering the first turn.

Lubash (Last 3 Beyers: 93-97-98)

* Has more wins at 1 1/8 miles on turf (three) than the rest of the field combined.

Freudie Anne vs. elders

Nine turf-meant fillies and mares clash in the John Hettinger, and Freudie Anne is the lone 3-year-old and looms the one to catch.

Freudie Anne upped her record on grass to 3 for 3 by wiring the Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Series. After racing wide early and finishing fourth in the Fleet Indian on the main track at Saratoga, she returns to turf and sheds eight pounds.

“This is what she likes to do – long on the grass,” said trainer Eddie Kenneally.

Several contenders emerge from the Yaddo Stakes, in which The Tea Cups rallied from last to win going away.

“They were going quick up front, and the closers seemed to have a better chance than the horses that were up front,” said trainer Jeremiah Englehart.

Old Harbor and Selenite, second and third in the Yaddo, are back for another try as well.

John hettinger (Race 8)

Key contenders

Freudie Anne (Last 3 Beyers: 56-83-52)

* Has lost consecutive races only once.

* Meets older stakes opponents for the first time.

The Tea Cups (Last 3 Beyers: 86-82-87)

* Late-blooming mare is having her most productive season at age 5.

* A bargain claim last year for $16,000.