The Player turning into a good one

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A key maiden race from last September at Churchill continues to produce. It was on Sept. 26 that Tom’s Ready won the seven-furlong race, with Forevamo second, The Player fourth, and Cherry Wine fifth.

Cherry Wine has accomplished the most since then and is now set to run Saturday in the Belmont Stakes off a runner-up finish in the Preakness. Tom’s Ready went on to finish second in the Louisiana Derby and 12th in the Kentucky Derby. Forevamo was second in the Risen Star and is now headed to the Indiana Derby on July 16.

The Player, meanwhile, has taken a little longer to mature but now has serious momentum, having won two races at this spring meet, most recently an impressive first-level allowance triumph last Friday over Unbridled Outlaw, another well-regarded 3-year-old. The Player earned a career-high 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

“We’re excited about him,” said trainer Buff Bradley, who will be in New York this weekend to run Divisidero in the Grade 1 Manhattan.

The Player, by Street Hero, was produced by Hour Queen, whose pedigree goes back several generations at Indian Ridge, the Bradley family farm in Frankfort, Ky.

“This family matures late,” said Bradley. “You don’t see them really start coming around until they’re about 4. I think he’s got great conformation, he’s sound, and he could really improve.”

◗ A field of about nine fillies and mares was expected when entries were drawn Wednesday for the Grade 3, $100,000 Mint Julep Handicap. The 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares on turf will be run Saturday. Mizz Money, the winner of the Grade 3 Gallorette on the May 21 Preakness undercard, is among the entries, along with the Brad Cox-trained duo of Sweet Acclaim and Cash Control.

The Belmont Stakes simulcast will follow the 11th and last race Saturday, which is set for 5:43 p.m. Eastern.

◗ El Kabeir, owned by Zayat Stables, is entered in the Met Mile on Saturday at Belmont, but the colt may be scratched to run instead in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster a week from Saturday at Churchill, said trainer John Terranova.

“I’m still discussing it with the Zayats,” said Terranova.

Known prospects for the Foster are Effinex, Eagle, Hawaakom, and Majestic Harbor.