Mask faces tough comeback assignment in Pat Day Mile

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Had things gone differently, Mask could have been lining up a bit later on Saturday evening. Instead he and several other 3-year-olds who held classic aspirations earlier in the year are part of a full, competitive field for the Grade 3, $300,000 Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Mask, trained by Chad Brown, won his two starts by a combined 9 1/4 lengths, most recently taking the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at a mile on Jan. 6 at Gulfstream. He then was knocked off the Derby trail.

“We needed to give him some time, but the horse is back training well,” Brown said. “It’s a tall order to go into a race like this – Derby weekend, going a mile – off a break, but he’s a really talented horse, and I don’t see a lot of other options that make sense for him right now. So I’m gonna lead him over there, and hopefully he continues his winning ways.”

Javier Castellano, aboard for Mask’s first two outings, retains the mount. They drew post 8 in a field of 14 for the one-turn mile.

National Flag comes in having won both his starts this year, both at seven furlongs. Last month, he overcame adversity in the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct to score his first graded stakes victory. Squeezed at the start and still fourth turning for home, he won going away.

“He sort of showed a new dimension that day when he got bounced around at the start and closed from off the pace, which gives us some additional options with him,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Greyvitos stamped himself as an early Derby hopeful winning the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar and the Springboard Mile at Remington before a knee chip sidelined him. He returned to finish fourth in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland last month, leading early but flattening out late.

Madison’s Luna has won both his starts, most recently coasting by five lengths in the Grade 3 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream on March 24. He will be going beyond 6 1/2 furlongs for the first time.

Mississippi finished third in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream last time out, while Restoring Hope was third in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Lombo won the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, but then faltered and finished seventh in the Grade 2 San Felipe there.

Seahenge, a Group 2 winner on turf last year, was fifth in the Group 2 UAE Derby last out. Completing the field are Grade 1 Hopeful winner Sporting Chance, Hopeful third Givemeaminit, Funny Duck, New York Central, Shane Zain, and Smart Remark.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mask, by Tapit
Beyers: 92-88

◗ He has some versatility, having rallied from fourth in his debut sprinting, but winning the Mucho Macho Man on the lead.

◗ His Beyer Speed Figure of 92 is tied with Madison’s Luna’s Hutcheson as the top last-out figure in the field.

◗ Fired a bullet breeze at Palm Meadows in his final work there before shipping north, and he has had a pair of breezes at Churchill.

National Flag
Last 3 Beyers: 86-100-71

◗ Owns the highest career Beyer in the field with a 100.

◗ Drew the rail under Flavien Prat.

◗ Worked in company with Florida Derby winner and Kentucky Derby entrant Audible last Friday, going a half in 49.40.

“He seemed to hold his own very well with him,” Pletcher said. “He’s always been a horse that trains well and breezes well.”

Greyvitos, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 85-88-93

◗ Victor Espinoza, up for his stakes wins, gets back aboard, and they drew the outside post. He is trained by Adam Kitchingman.