Round 2 for four allowance rivals Monday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In case you were distracted by the Kentucky Derby draw on the Wednesday before the race and happened to miss a hotly contested allowance run just beforehand at Churchill Downs, well, you can now catch the rematch.

The top four finishers from that one-mile race May 4 will reconvene in the richest Memorial Day race at Churchill, a $56,000, third-level allowance with an $80,000 claiming option. It’s the ninth of 11 races and the first of back-to-back allowances on a special Monday card that starts at 12:45 p.m. Eastern.

Paid Admission pulled a 10-1 surprise under Corey Lanerie on May 4, and although the colt already had gone through this condition in March, he remained eligible by being risked for the $80,000 by Midwest Thoroughbreds. The 4-year-old colt will be looking to validate that upset Monday when stretching out an additional furlong and breaking from post 2 with Lanerie back aboard.

Money Flows, a close second as the 13-10 favorite in their first meeting, was assigned post 1 and will be looking to reverse that result when likely to be favored again under Julien Leparoux, who through Friday held a tenuous lead (26-23) over Lanerie atop the meet standings.

“That was a one-turn race, and we think we’ll turn the tables going two turns,” said Al Stall Jr., who trains Money Flows for Columbine Stable. “This horse took a while to come around, but he does have a lot of talent.”

Gorgeous Bird and Irish You Well also return Monday as the third- and fourth-place finishers from the May 4 race. The most dangerous newcomer in the field of eight older horses looks to be King of New York.

As usual, Churchill bugler Steve Buttleman will be tooting out patriotic tunes before every race Monday in honor of our fallen veterans.

After Monday, Churchill goes dark for two days before a four-day race week starts with an eight-race Twilight Thursday card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Paid Admission, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 91-86-81

◗ Trained by Chris Richard, this late-running colt went from last to first when benefitting from the kind of ground-saving ride for which Lanerie is known.

Money Flows, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 90-90-82

◗ Lightly raced 5-year-old with just six career starts has never run a bad one and now makes the third start in a new form cycle.

Gorgeous Bird, by Unbridled’s Song Last 3 Beyers: 88-69-87

◗ Marylou Whitney homebred stands to benefit in a big way from the May 4 race, which was his first in more than six months.

King of New York, by Street Boss
Last 3 Beyers: 92-85-91

◗ Trainer Ken McPeek had The Truth or Else as a well-bet also-ran in the May 4 race and now gives this capable 4-year-old a shot at them.