O'Neill tries to keep Kentucky hot streak alive in Woodford

LEXINGTON, Ky. – California trainer Doug O’Neill has had success shipping to Kentucky in the past month, sending in Lazy Daisy to win the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs and running one-two with Legends of War and Stubbins in the Grade 3 Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs. Stubbins will try to do his part for the O’Neill barn when he returns to Kentucky for the Grade 2, $200,000 Woodford Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf Saturday at Keeneland.

The 3-year-old Stubbins won three consecutive races earlier this year at Santa Anita, taking a pair of turf sprints followed by an off-the-turf score in the one-mile Pasadena Stakes. That earned him a trip overseas, where he finished sixth in the Group 2 UAE Derby.

Following a freshening, Stubbins returned to finish a solid third against older horses in an optional-claiming race won by Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint candidate Eddie Haskell. After finishing sixth when trying a route on turf in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap, Stubbins cut back to a sprint in the Franklin-Simpson and was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by his stablemate Legends of War.

Joel Rosario retains the mount Saturday on Stubbins, who is the only 3-year-old facing older horses in the Woodford.

Imprimis won the Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes during the spring meeting at Keeneland, going the same 5 1/2-furlong distance as the Woodford. He is 7 for 9 at the distance. Off that win, trainer Joe Orseno sent Imprimis to England, where he finished sixth in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Ascot.

Imprimis was given time off over the summer, and returned to finish fourth in the Grade 3 Runhappy Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs behind Totally Boss, Smart Remark, and Leinster.

Smart Remark, who is multiple graded-stakes-placed this season, and Leinster, who won the Grade 3 Troy Stakes at Saratoga with a career-best Beyer Speed Figure before his run at Kentucky Downs, both return for the Woodford.

Extravagant Kid, who has not missed the exacta this year while competing exclusively in stakes company, finished second in the Grade 1 Highlander Stakes on the Woodbine turf before winning the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs.

The field also includes Seven Trumpets, who was Grade 1-placed sprinting on dirt last year and is trying turf for the first time, and Fareeq, who has won three straight races at the allowance level.