Owendale looks to climb into heady company in Foster
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There’s refreshing depth in the ranks of older dirt horses in America right now.
Bob Baffert has Maximum Security, Mucho Gusto, Improbable, and McKinzie out in California, primed for a big second half of 2020, while Vekoma and Code of Honor are holding down the fort in New York.
Here in Kentucky, the top dogs are Tom’s d’Etat and By My Standards, the two favorites Saturday in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. But trainer Brad Cox is hoping Owendale can crash the elite, too, by following up on a huge effort in his 4-year-old debut.
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Owendale absolutely flew down the middle of the course in winning the one-mile Blame on May 23 at Churchill and earning a 99 Beyer Figure. Cox is looking for something similar when the Into Mischief colt stretches out in the 1 1/8-mile Foster.
“He was pretty impressive that day,” said Cox. “He’s older and more mature, and I think he’s going to be better with the two turns. Obviously the Foster looks like a tough race, but we’re ready.”
Owendale, owned by Rupp Racing, won three Grade 3 stakes for 3-year-olds last year before ending his season by finishing second to the older Tom’s d’Etat in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill in late November.
Meanwhile, Miguel Mena gets to ride Tom’s d’Etat because Joel Rosario is committed Saturday in several stakes at Belmont Park, including aboard Uni in the Grade 1 Just a Game for Chad Brown. Rosario has ridden Tom’s d’Etat five times and won them all.
The only shipper in an eight-horse Foster field is Multiplier, who was en route by charter flight from California early Monday, less than 48 hours after finishing second by a nose to Ax Man in a Saturday allowance at Santa Anita. Multiplier is trained by Peter Miller for a partnership that includes movie mogul Gary Barber.
“Mr. Barber and I like to think outside the box,” said Miller.
As for Cox, he continues to lead the spring meet standings and is seeking the fourth Churchill training title of his ascendant career. With just four of 27 cards remaining, he held a 15-11 lead over Steve Asmussen into Thursday action.