Salty, Benner Island will ship from Kentucky for Acorn

The charter flight that will transport likely Belmont Stakes favorite Classic Empire from Louisville to New York on Tuesday will also include quite a few other Kentucky-based stakes horses for that weekend, including at least a couple for the Grade 1 Acorn on the June 10 Belmont undercard.

Salty, fifth in the Kentucky Oaks, and Benner Island, winner of the Grade 2 Eight Belles on the same May 5 card, are headed to the Acorn, while Sailor’s Valentine, sixth in the Oaks off her Ashland Stakes upset, was termed “50-50” this week by trainer Eddie Kenneally for the one-mile race.

Salty, like Classic Empire, is scheduled to breeze here early Friday for trainer Mark Casse, who also will be sending World Approval (Manhattan) and Awesome Slew (Met Mile) on the charter.

Brad Cox, trainer of Benner Island, intends to also have Green Mask (Jaipur) and Sassy Little Lila (Just a Game) on the flight.