One Dreamer, juvenile stakes prove attractive

The surreal nature of secondary features with $350,000 purses on a program that’s not even the richest of a five-day meet is pure Kentucky Downs. Such races are the result of six years of accruing revenues from on-site Instant Racing machines, and they’re attractive enough to have created a logjam at the entry box when fields were being assembled earlier this week at the south-central Kentucky track.

Regardless, racing fans are among the direct beneficiaries. The Kentucky Downs Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies each is worth up to $350,000 (purses include substantial bonuses for eligible Kentucky-breds). Along with the $150,000 One Dreamer, they’ll surround the $400,000 Tourist Mile on a terrific 10-race Saturday card at this turf-only track.

Here’s a quick rundown of those three supporting stakes:

◗ $150,000 One Dreamer (race 6, post 4:11 p.m. Central): A fast pace is virtually assured for this mile and 70-yard race for fillies and mares given the presence of Daddy’s Boo, who probably won’t be allowed a breather by Frozen Hannah or Zipessa.

That scenario could force an outcome to favor My Impression, a multiple stakes-winning filly who has lived on the fringes amid high-class company this year while going winless in five starts. Tyler Gaffalione has the call from Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey aboard My Impression, a Stuart Janney homebred.

Other contenders include Boreale, making her third North American start, all for Graham Motion; Zipessa, who faded late after setting the pace in the Grade 1 Beverly D. last out; and the uncoupled Wesley Ward duo of Celestial Insight and Mo Knows.

Sixteen fillies and mares were entered in the One Dreamer, which is restricted to nonwinners of a stakes in 2017. As many as 12 can start, with the other four relegated to the also-eligibles list.

◗ $350,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies (race 7, 4:46): Best Performance ran second in the Astoria and the Grade 3 Schuylerville in New York and will be making her grass debut. She is trained by Christophe Clement, whose trainees tend to excel on the green.

Best Performance, with Brian Hernandez Jr. to ride from post 3, is part of an overflow field of 2-year-old fillies in the seven-furlong race. In all, 19 were entered, although just 16 made the program and only 12 of those can start.

Others sure to draw solid support are Moonlight Rain, a winner over the Woodbine turf for Mark Casse in her only start; Ultima D, narrowly defeated at Saratoga in late July; and a swarm of fillies with last-out Ellis Park maiden wins, including High Tech, Go Noni Go, and Katie’s Reward.

◗ $350,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile (race 9, 5:55): This seven-furlong race is another handicapping jumble, with a core of lukewarm favorites likely to include the stakes-seasoned Tigerbeach in his second start for Chicago kingpin Larry Rivelli; Bantu, a rousing last-out maiden winner at Ellis for trainer Brendan Walsh; Northern Trail, who split Dak Attack and Ten City when second at 81-1 in the Ellis Juvenile; and Snapper Sinclair, a sharp Saratoga maiden winner for Steve Asmussen.

Eighteen colts and geldings were entered, with 16 making the program and only 12 to start.