My Afleet to test older stakes horses next out

My Afleet, the winner of Saturday’s Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs, will likely test older stakes horses in his next race, trainer James “Chuck” Lawrence said.

With his voice hoarse Sunday morning from cheering for My Afleet the previous day as he battled down the length of the Kentucky Downs stretch with the favored Medal Count, Lawrence said the $100,000 Laurel Turf Cup and even the Grade 1, $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park are potential next races. Both races are for 3-year-olds and up and contested at 1 1/2 miles on turf Sept. 27, with the latter race carrying the added incentive of being a Win and You’re In challenge race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

“The main goal is to get to California,” Lawrence said, referencing where Santa Anita is located. “That may sound ambitious, but you don't get there if you don't dream.”

Win and You’re In challenge races provide a winner with an entry and expense-paid birth in the Breeders’ Cup.

A 3-year-old gelded son of Afleet Alex owned by his breeders, Jeffrey Amling and Merriefield Farm, My Afleet ran 1 5/16 miles on a firm turf course Saturday in 2:14.10, a time that resulted in him receiving a career-best 89 Beyer Speed Figure. It was his second consecutive victory, following a win Aug. 10 at Saratoga in a first-level allowance at 1 1/2 miles on turf.

“I knew that course would suit this horse – I actually rode there in a steeplechase race the first year it was open when it was Dueling Grounds,” Lawrence said. “This horse loves to gobble up the ground.”

Stakes winning juveniles rally from behind

In contrast to My Afleet, who raced on the lead, the two winners of the respective stakes for 2-year-olds Saturday at Kentucky Downs, rallied successfully on the outside.

Croninthebarbarian closed from last to take Kentucky Downs Juvenile after a slow start, while Nicky’s Brown Miss came from mid-pack to win the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies. Both races were contested at seven furlongs, with Croninthebarbarian running slightly faster in winning the race for males, covering the distance in 1:26.10, compared to 1:26.35 for Nicky’s Brown Miss.

Croninthebarbarian earned a 78 Beyer for his victory, Nicky’s Brown Miss a 74.

Many of the top finishers from the two juvenile stakes races are likely to return at Keeneland, which hosts the Grade 3, $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf for 2-year-old males Oct. 5 and the Grade 3, $150,000 Jessamine over the same distance on the Keeneland turf Oct. 8 for 2-year-old fillies.

The two races are Win And You’re In challenge races, with the Bourbon being a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and the Jessamine being a prep for the Juvenile Fillies Turf.