Partisan Politics heads New York shippers in Mrs. Revere

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – No one could be blamed for believing that Churchill Downs has been temporarily transformed into NYRA South when the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes is run Saturday under the lights. In a remarkably competitive 25th running of the $200,000 Mrs. Revere, many of the principals are shipping in from New York Racing Association tracks, including the uncoupled Chad Brown duo of Partisan Politics and Tammy the Torpedo.

Twenty 3-year-old fillies were entered in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, although only as many as 14 can run, with four more fillies relegated to an also-eligible list. Besides Brown, other major New York trainers sending horses here include Todd Pletcher, Bill Mott, Shug McGaughey, Christophe Clement, and Kiaran McLaughlin.

Partisan Politics won the Pebbles Stakes last month at Belmont Park, partly erasing the sting of two earlier nose defeats in stakes on her home circuit. Javier Castellano, the two-time Eclipse Award winner and the only jockey the filly has ever had, will be back aboard as one of a handful of riders flying in for the day.

Both Partisan Politics and Tammy the Torpedo, a sharp last-out winner following a layoff of nearly a year, are daughters of the top grass sire More Than Ready, and both have developed tractability and a closing kick – traits that likely will be required of whichever filly emerges as the winner here. There is plenty of pace in here, particularly Isabella Sings, a Pletcher-trained filly who figures to show the way to Robillard, Devine Aida, Darling Sky, and Celestine as the early stages unfold.

The Mrs. Revere, named for a four-time Churchill stakes winner of the mid-1980s, is carded as the 10th of 12 races on a Saturday card that starts at the usual 12:40 p.m. Eastern and includes two earlier allowances (races 2 and 6). The last several races will be run under the lights, including the Mrs. Revere (5:15). The 12th race goes at 6:15.

Although the inside lanes on the turf course have been preserved by a temporary rail since the 21-day fall meet began Nov. 1, Churchill announced this week that racing against the inner hedge will begin Saturday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Partisan Politics (Last 3 Beyers: 93-85-89)

◗ This honest sort won the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga as a 2-year-old maiden and hasn’t departed the stakes ranks since then, reeling off strong efforts when faced with a variety of circumstances. Clearly, this race has great depth, but she’s a deserving favorite.

Onus (Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-76)

◗ This McGaughey-trained filly has been sensational in three straight trips down Interstate 95 to Laurel Park, culminating with a 4 1/2-length triumph in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Oaks seven weeks ago. She must show that she can be similarly effective outside the Maryland borders.

Celestine (Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-83)

◗ The five-month layoff and the far-outside post are the main obstacles that this Mott-trained filly must overcome as she tries to extend her winning streak to five in what is easily her toughest assignment to date.

Devine Aida (Last 3 Beyers: 90-70-76)

◗ The blinkers come off this gray filly, who was the Pebbles runner-up when making her first start for Clement following a five-month layoff. She’ll be ridden by Joe Bravo, who has won 17 graded stakes in 2015.

Tammy the Torpedo (Last 3 Beyers: 88-81-69)

◗ One of the obvious wild cards of the group, she might not have beaten much in her recent comeback, but her three races at 2 suggested real potential.

Return to Grace (Last 3 Beyers: 89-87-78)

◗ Perhaps the best of the locally based contingent, this Mark Casse-trained filly rallied to win a non-graded stakes at Kentucky Downs before finishing a decent fifth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.