Prime Attraction flattered by Accelerate's BC win

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s not just the near-miss in the Fayette Stakes that will make Prime Attraction a major consideration in the Clark Handicap next Friday at Churchill Downs.

It’s also that his longtime nemesis on their home California circuit, Accelerate, furthered his dominance on an international scale by winning the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill.

“I’d say the Breeders’ Cup flattered our horse, yes,” Jim Cassidy, who trains Prime Attraction for D P Racing LLC, said this week from his Santa Anita base. “I think Accelerate should be Horse of the Year, no question, but that’s only my opinion.”

In seven starts since winning the Grade 3 Native Diver at Del Mar in November 2017, Prime Attraction has faced off five times against Accelerate, finishing behind him every time while more often than not putting forth a respectable effort. The only two times in that span that Prime Attraction did not oppose Accelerate was in the Eddie Read on turf in July and the Oct. 27 Fayette at Keeneland, where Prime Attraction was on the lead the entire trip before being head-bobbed in the final jumps by Leofric. Both of the 5-year-old horses earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

“The plan was to run back in the Clark if he ran well at Keeneland,” Cassidy said. “I thought he ran great.”

Prime Attraction has been training regularly at Churchill in the care of Cassidy’s son, Christopher, and was scheduled to have his second breeze here Friday or Saturday.

“Christopher tells me he’s training really well,” Cassidy said.

Prime Attraction is one of about eight horses expected when entries are taken Sunday for the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark, the post-Breeders’ Cup highlight of the 21-day Churchill fall meet. The 1 1/8-mile race occupies its traditional spot on the calendar – the Friday after Thanksgiving, when thousands of local families and friends revel in holiday reunions at the track. Besides the 1-2 Fayette finishers, other probables include the 2017 winner, Seeking the Soul, who could go favored after most recently finishing second to City of Light in the BC Dirt Mile.

The Clark is one of six graded stakes that help end the meet, which closes Sunday, Nov. 25. The other races are the Grade 2 Falls City and Grade 3 Cardinal on Thursday; the Clark and Grade 2 Mrs. Revere on Friday; and the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club and Grade 2 Golden Rod on Saturday.

Blue Prize, the 2017 winner and most recently fourth in the BC Distaff, was not expected when Falls City entries were drawn Saturday. Another notable holdover from the Breeders’ Cup, Knicks Go (second in the Juvenile), is being considered for the Kentucky Jockey Club by trainer Ben Colebrook, who said the Dec. 8 Maryland Juvenile Futurity at Laurel is an alternate spot.

Three on turf Sunday

Churchill officials were hoping conditions were good enough to run all three turf races as scheduled Sunday. Two of those, races 3 and 9, are allowance co-features, and both drew attractive fields. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

A saturated course forced the cancellation of two of three turf races Wednesday, as well as all turf races Thursday and Friday. The only turf race scheduled for Saturday was the Grade 3 River City. Improving weather conditions starting Friday led to optimism the course would be usable all weekend.

Albarado OK after spill

Veteran jockey Robby Albarado took off his lone remaining mount but was otherwise fortunate to escape serious injury in the seventh race Thursday when he was spilled from Patsy, a 2-year-old Blame filly who broke down leaving the backstretch and was subsequently euthanized.

The winner of the seven-furlong maiden special race was Heels, a Claiborne Farm homebred who returned $87.80 to win after failing to finish better than sixth in her three prior starts.

Hiles to hang a shingle

Jeff Hiles, a longtime assistant to trainer Kenny McPeek, announced this week he intends to start his own public stable, beginning with the Oaklawn Park meet in January.

Hiles, 38, is a former U.S. Marine and the son of Rick Hiles, a trainer for more than 40 years and a longtime horsemen’s representative. He worked in numerous professions before returning to his family roots.

“I always had the end goal to be in horse racing as my career,” Hiles told Churchill publicity.

Do we cheat ’em? And how!

Given the fact the 2-year-old colt Deweycheatemanhowe is entered for a $15,000 claiming tag when making his career debut Sunday in the fourth race at Churchill, he’s highly unlikely to enjoy the success of his Standardbred counterpart, Deweycheatumnhowe, who won the 2008 Hambletonian and was 22 of 25 overall.

Still, the name will draw plenty of laughs when poking fun at the fictitious law firm of Dewey, Cheatem & Howe.

◗ The Kentucky division of the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association is raising money for the GoFundMe account (bit.ly/2OCzCJP) intended for the family of the late exercise rider, Odanis Acuna, through a raffle of three flat-screen televisions. Tickets are $10 and available at kyhbpa.org/donate.

As of early Friday, the account stood at more than $113,000.