McCraken begins season's second half in Matt Winn

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – McCraken will return to racing Saturday night at Churchill Downs, six weeks after running in the Kentucky Derby. It’s the same blueprint used last year by Gun Runner – and look how that turned out.

Indeed, overlapping story lines and a certain amount of serendipity will be in play with the Downs After Dark card that begins the so-called second half of the North American racing season Saturday night. None of it is by design.

“My hand was forced,” said Ian Wilkes, who trains McCraken for Whitham Thoroughbreds. “We had to wait. Even if we had won the Derby, we couldn’t have run back in the Preakness.”

A puncture wound to the colt’s left hind ankle sustained in the well-publicized rough start to the 143rd Derby was serious enough to delay his return to training by an extra week or so. Wilkes said ongoing treatment with antibiotic cream and kid gloves has rendered the injury inconsequential, although its remnants remain visible.

“We’re still dealing with it, although it hasn’t interrupted our training schedule,” Wilkes said.

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McCraken will be heavily favored in what is expected to be a small field of 3-year-olds in the Grade 3, $100,000 Matt Winn, one of five graded stakes on an evening highlighted by the Grade 1, $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap. The Winn was the comeback spot for Gun Runner following a third-place finish in the 2016 Kentucky Derby; in his eight post-Derby starts, Gun Runner has earned more than $3.2 million for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm, bringing his career bankroll to a whopping $4,337,800.

Gun Runner also will be a huge favorite in the Stephen Foster Handicap while making his first start since finishing second behind Arrogate in the March 25 Dubai World Cup.

McCraken and Gun Runner both have been on a steady work schedule entering their races. McCraken was sent through his last serious prerace move Sunday, going five furlongs in 1:00.20 in company with stablemate Fifth Title, while Gun Runner had his final prerace blowout Monday, going a half-mile in 49.40 seconds in a solo work.

Wilkes concedes disappointment in McCraken having finished eighth in the Derby. Hopes were high, as the colt was the 6-1 fourth choice in a field of 20, partly on the strength of his 3-for-3 record at Churchill entering the race.

Still, there will be plenty of opportunities to salvage a reputation damaged by the colt’s losses in the Blue Grass Stakes and Derby. Wilkes would like to talk about what lies beyond the 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn – the Jim Dandy at Saratoga is foremost among the options – but he wants to see a solid effort Saturday night.

“One race at a time,” he said. “Let’s see what happens here first.”

Among the Saturday twists: Wilkes will be among the principals looking to slow the Gun Runner juggernaut. He will send out Bird Song, a winner of the Grade 2 Alysheba last out, in a field of at least seven older horses expected when Foster entries were drawn Wednesday.

“Both horses have a lot of speed,” he said. “The race strategy will depend on the draw and the break.”

Julien Leparoux and Florent Geroux, fellow Frenchmen, are the respective jockeys of Bird Song and Gun Runner.

“They’re both great riders, so I’m sure they’ll be realistic about it,” Wilkes said. “You have to be careful you don’t go out too fast and set it up for one of the others.”

With weight assignments, these were the known Foster prospects as of Monday: Gun Runner, 124 pounds; Bird Song, 119; Honorable Duty, 119; Breaking Lucky, 117; Stanford, 117; Hawaakom, 115; and Mo Tom, 115.

The other Saturday night stakes are the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap, the Grade 2 Wise Dan, and the Grade 3 Regret.

The Foster and Fleur de Lis are Win and You’re In races toward the Nov. 3-4 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar and will be televised live on the NBC Sports Network from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Eastern. First post for the 11-race card is 6. General admission is $10.

Big Beyer for Dona Bruja

Ignacio Correas could barely contain his excitement. The 57-year-old trainer entered the Churchill winner’s circle Saturday after sending out Dona Bruja to win the Grade 3 Mint Julep as if he had been there before – but the reality is that circumstances such as this are rare.

“She’s a freak,” Correas said.

Making her North American debut after winning a Group 1 race in her native Argentina in December, Dona Bruja earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure in the Mint Julep, well above what reasonably could have been expected.

Correas said he will point Dona Bruja to the Aug. 12 Beverly D. at Arlington Park and will consider the July 8 Modesty as a prep.

◗ With just 10 of 38 programs remaining at the Churchill spring meet, Corey Lanerie, with 45 winners through last weekend, has another riding title about wrapped up. Steve Asmussen leads the trainer standings with 15 wins, followed by a five-way tie for second (12 wins each) among J.R. Caldwell, Brendan Walsh, Tom Amoss, Ian Wilkes, and Brad Cox.