Power Alert streaks into Shakertown
There is little consensus regarding what North American racing would be like if race-day medication were eliminated. Among many differing views, some believe it would benefit the long-term nature of the breed, while others feel it would not be accepted by horsemen, and already-short fields would grow smaller.
One thing seems clear: A horse such as Power Alert, one of the favorites in Saturday’s Grade 3, $125,000 Shakertown at Keeneland, would be a horse without a racing home.
A bleeder in Australia, where race-day medication is not allowed and bleeders are barred from competition after a couple of instances of respiratory bleeding, he was purchased and brought to the U.S. to join Australian-born trainer Brian Lynch.
Given what Lynch described as “due diligence” – rest, treatments in a hyperbaric chamber, and racing with the anti-bleeding medication Lasix – Power Alert has turned into a dominant force in turf sprints, winning both of his starts in the U.S., including most recently the March 14 Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream, where he earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
With regular jockey Julien Leparoux named to ride, he now faces a stiff test in the 13-horse Shakertown, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint that likely will be run on wet ground, with rain forecast Friday into early Saturday morning.
Amelia’s Wild Ride, who chased him twice this winter in Florida, is in the lineup, as are Something Extra, Tightend Touchdown, and Undrafted, who all ran in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Key contenders
Power Alert (Last 2 Beyers: 100-96)
* An interest in him was purchased following his last race by a partnership that includes Goldman Sachs executive Jim Covello, who aims to buy ontrack Thoroughbreds with lofty speed figures or with favorable figure patterns.
Tightend Touchdown (Last 3 Beyers: 68-95-90)
* Didn’t fire in his last start when racing on dirt in the $200,000 Fabulous Strike at Penn National to finish 2014 but now returns to his best surface. He has compiled a 4-5-1 record in 14 starts on grass.
Undrafted (Last 3 Beyers: 97-92-101)
* Enjoyed his most lucrative year in 2014, winning the Grade 3 Jaipur at Belmont, running fourth at Ascot in a Group 1, and finishing a close third in the BC Turf Sprint.
Amelia’s Wild Ride (Last 3 Beyers: 98-97-90)
* Makes the third start of his current form cycle after finishing second, beaten a half-length by Power Alert, in the Silks Run Stakes after being caught in traffic around the turn. He previously won the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint on Feb. 7.