Miss Kentucky tops field in Roxelana

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Miss Kentucky is as tactical as a sprinter can be, and that ought to help again Saturday. The 4-year-old filly has worked out perfect trips for herself in winning twice already at the Churchill Downs spring meet, and she’ll try to do the same in the $75,000 Roxelana.

Brian Hernandez Jr. has a return call from trainer Rusty Arnold on Miss Kentucky, who captured an opening-night allowance April 28 before winning right back in the Grade 3 Winning Colors on May 26. Miss Kentucky will break from the outside post in a field of seven fillies and mares in the Roxelana, giving Hernandez options aplenty as the six-furlong race unfolds.

Vertical Oak (post 3, Ricardo Santana Jr.), a multiple graded winner for trainer Steve Asmussen, represents the primary opposition for Miss Kentucky and is exiting a splashy victory in the Skipat Stakes on Preakness eve at Pimlico.

The Roxelana is named for the standout sprinter who won 7 of 11 career starts from 2000-03 for the late trainer Blackie Huffman, father of Churchill racing secretary Ben Huffman. The race goes as the 10th of 11 (post time, 5:25 p.m. Eastern) on a card that begins at 12:45.

Five allowances and three maiden specials also are on tap on a high-class program. The two richest supporting events both drew stakes-proven performers – Pinch Hit, winner of the Dogwood Stakes here last September, is among seven fillies and mares in a $64,000 allowance (race 6), while stakes winners Chocolate Ride, Sahm, Tweet Kitten, and One Mean Man form the core of favorites for a $64,000 turf mile (race 8).

The Roxelana is part of the 20-cent Single 6 (races 6-11 that began a four-day race week with nearly $14,000 in its carryover jackpot Thursday evening.

After Saturday, the only remaining stakes are three races next Saturday (June 30) on closing day of the 38-day meet – the $100,000 Bashford Manor and $100,000 Debutante, both for 2-year-olds at six furlongs, and the $75,000 Kelly’s Landing, for 3-year-olds and upward at seven furlongs.

KEY CONTENDERS

Miss Kentucky, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 87-87-84

◗ This Preston Madden homebred has fared particularly well at Churchill, her home track, compiling three wins and a second from six attempts, including her maiden triumph here last June.

Vertical Oak, by Giant Oak
Last 3 Beyers: 93-77-70

◗ She’s a very handy filly with a terrific turn of foot, too, as evidenced by career-best efforts in winning the Miss Preakness, Prioress, and Skipat.

Annathela, by Elusive Quality
Last 3 Beyers: 81-72-72

◗ The “other” Roxelana starter from the Arnold barn, this homebred Baum mare also has demonstrated a strong preference for the local surface with a 3-4-1 record from eight starts.

Golden Domer, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 82-80-81

◗ This hard-trying filly most recently was a decent third behind Miss Kentucky in the Winning Colors in her stakes debut for Brendan Walsh.