Ralis cuts back to one turn in Pat Day Mile

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ralis has found himself the understudy to champion stablemate Nyquist over the past six months, but he will try to escape the Kentucky Derby favorite’s shadow Saturday in the Grade 3, $250,000 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs.

While no slouch in winning last year’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths, the colt lost his way after that race, losing each of his next three starts by double-digit lengths, including a 15 1/4-length loss to Nyquist in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Ralis showed signs of righting the ship in his latest start, the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes on April 2 at Turfway Park, where he finished fifth, within a length of the winner, Oscar Nominated – the same day Nyquist romped in the Florida Derby to solidify his résumé.

The pair clocked their final breezes together April 29 at Keeneland, with Ralis covering a mile in 1:42.80 under exercise rider Jonny Garcia, nearly two seconds behind Nyquist.

The “little brother” relationship between Ralis and Nyquist, both owned by Reddam Racing, wasn’t lost on trainer Doug O’Neill after last week’s breeze.

“He’s probably wondering what the heck just happened there,” O’Neill joked, “but he ran into a freak. Jonny, once he realized the big horse was wanting to stretch his legs, he didn’t go chasing. He’s probably a good buck-forty-two, while Mario’s [Gutierrez, aboard Nyquist] about 112, so there’s a little weight shift there as well.”

The Pat Day Mile marks a return to one-turn racing for Ralis following three fruitless tries at two turns. Both of the colt’s wins and a stakes placing have come at one turn, including the seven-furlong Hopeful at Saratoga. Ralis also will add blinkers Saturday for the first time, following Garcia’s suggestion.

Ralis, with Gutierrez aboard, will be part of a 14-horse field in the Pat Day Mile.

The race shape shifted on draw day Wednesday, when a pair of horses headed for the Kentucky Derby’s also-eligible list opted instead to enter the undercard race: Fellowship, who was 21st in the points standings Tuesday, and Discreetness, sitting at 26. Fellowship appears to be the better contender of the two, coming off a late-gaining third-place finish in the Florida Derby.

Key Contenders

Ralis, by Square Eddie

Last 3 Beyers: 80-78-64

Grade 1 winner adds blinkers and comes off his best effort of 2016, just missing in the Spiral Stakes. He should continue improving with a one-turn mile.

Fellowship, by Awesome of Course

Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-85

Gets some class relief after a trio of thirds on the Gulfstream Park trail to the Kentucky Derby. His last win came in October in a 1 1/16-mile Florida-sired stakes race.

American Freedom, by Pulpit

Last Beyer: 98

A debut winner who comes in with the field’s best Beyer, having taken an April 2 maiden special weight over a sloppy track at Santa Anita. He worked a bullet five furlongs in 59 seconds Monday at Churchill.