Majestic Harbor leads cast for Louisville Handicap

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Majestic Harbor achieved the rare feat of winning back-to-back off-the-turf allowances within the same month, doing so as the lone main-track-only designee in short fields at Keeneland on April 4 and at Churchill Downs on opening night, April 25.

The 7-year-old horse is a Grade 1 winner with earnings of more than $750,000, so it’s not like he has taken shortcuts. Still, he is unproven on turf, and with nothing but blue skies in the forecast through this weekend, he’ll have to put his versatility on display to prevail Saturday in a well-matched renewal of the Louisville Handicap at Churchill.

A field of nine older horses has been entered in the 78th running of the Louisville, a 1 1/2-mile turf race run around three turns. Majestic Harbor, owned by the Gallant Stable, will start from post 5 as the co-highweight at 116 pounds with Patrioticandproud (post 9).

From the hedge, and with weights and riders, this is the Louisville lineup: Royal Blessing, 114, Miguel Mena; Cozy Kitten, 114, Julien Leparoux; Calvados, 115, Rafael Hernandez; Layton Register, 113, Jon Court; Majestic Harbor, 116, Corey Lanerie; For Greater Glory, 114, Joe Rocco Jr.; Xtra Luck, 114, Brian Hernandez Jr.; Golden Soul, 115, Robby Albarado; and Patrioticandproud, 116, Shaun Bridgmohan.

The Louisville Handicap is the first of two Grade 3, $100,000 stakes to be run this holiday weekend at Churchill. The Winning Colors, for female sprinters, will have its 12th running Monday, with entries to be drawn Friday.

Unlike in some prior years, Churchill will not replace the dark day missed because of its hosting racing on Memorial Day and instead will conduct racing next Thursday, May 28.

Ellis Park honors Groupie Doll

Ellis Park has renamed its marquee race in honor of Groupie Doll, the two-time female sprint champion who in 2011 won what had been known as the Gardenia Stakes since its 1982 inception.

The 34th running of the Grade 3 Groupie Doll Stakes, a one-mile race for fillies and mares, is set for Aug. 8 at the western Kentucky track. It is the only graded race at Ellis.