River Downs: Showdown on turf

Tri Uimet and Dooze are unquestionably two of the best Ohio-bred 3-year-olds around. Which of the two is better will be decided at River Downs in the $50,000 Green Carpet Stakes.

Both Tri Uimet and Dooze enter the Green Carpet off two dominating sprint wins. Tri Uimet captured a pair of allowances at Thistledown by a combined margin of more than 12 lengths, while Dooze's two wins at Beulah Park, including the Noonan Stakes, were by a combined margin of more than 21 lengths.

Tri Uimet defeated Dooze last year in their only prior meeting, a first-level allowance at Mountaineer, but Dooze's Beyer Speed Figure of 94 for his Noonan victory suggests the gap has likely narrowed significantly.

From a pedigree standpoint, the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Green Carpet should not present a problem for either one. Tri Uimet is by Lac Ouimet, and Dooze is by Anees. The unknown, however, is the surface: turf. Neither of them has tried the grass, though Dooze, a grandson of Australian champion Strawberry Road, might have an edge in that regard. Few of the others in the Green Carpet field have tried the turf.

Another entrant likely to attract strong support in the Green Carpet is Chicago invader Not Broke Yet, a recent three-length winner of an open maiden race at Arlington going nine furlongs. Not Broke Yet finished a distant fifth in his only turf attempt, his second career start, but seems a much better horse now.