Northern Connect leads well-matched field in Sunday allowance

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Oh, great. Just when it’ll be warm enough to run on the turf course, a pouring rain is expected to arrive Sunday with rising temperatures, a development highly likely to scuttle turf racing again at Churchill Downs, rendering an already saturated track very muddy.

Three allowances are among the 11 races carded for Sunday, with one of them (race 9) scheduled for turf. That one surely will be transferred to the main track with the usual scratches, leaving the third and 10th races as candidates for highlight of the afternoon.

The third is a $45,000 second-level allowance redrawn from the Thursday card, which was canceled because of a frozen track, while the 10th is a $43,000 first-level race that drew a nice-looking field of fillies and mares. Northern Connect, Kimberley Jean, Compass Rose, Electric Temptress, and Ducasa look like logical contenders in a well-matched group.

The Sunday card, like most through the Nov. 26 end of the fall meet, consists of one more race than usual, owing to the Wednesday and Thursday cancellations here.

After Sunday, Churchill goes dark before the meet’s final five-day stretch commences Wednesday.

10th race

Key contenders

Northern Connect (Last 2 Beyers: 71-55)

* Homebred for Ellis Park owner Ron Geary got the job done against lesser sorts when getting first-time Lasix during the first week of this fall meet.

* She draws a decent post for a stalking trip under Brian Hernandez Jr., who’s having a solid meet.

Kimberley Jean (Last 3 Beyers: 76-72-57)

* The turn back from longer races seems to be not a bad idea for a gray filly who showed late interest for this same condition three weeks ago.*

* Her in-the-money finishes (7) relative to her total wins (1) make her an “under” candidate for the verticals.

Compass Rose (Last 3 Beyers: 65-62-68)

* She’s perfect in one attempt for connections who brought her back from a lengthy layoff to knock out a maiden condition as a Keeneland favorite.

* These seven furlongs would seem to suit her running style.

Electric Temptress (Last 3 Beyers: 76-75-55)

* Beyer-wise, this gray filly has the look of the likely favorite, and the fact owner Maggi Moss and trainer Chris Richard continue to win at a very high percentage probably will seal that deal.

* Beware, however, that she never has been tried in an allowance race.

Ducasa (Last 3 Beyers: 62-35-75)

* Part of an uncoupled Steve Asmussen duo (with Isle of Wonder), she stands to benefit substantially from a needed last outing at Keeneland.

* She comes well drawn in the outside post with Julien Leparoux up.