Shippers prominent in featured handicap

The longer the coronavirus pandemic forces a widespread shutdown of North America racing, the more horsemen with the means to do so are making their way to Will Rogers Downs, one of the few tracks still racing.

You can see that generally on the Wednesday card at Will Rogers, which includes entrants who made their most recent start at 13 different venues, with horses coming in from tracks as far afield as Charles Town in West Virginia, Turf Paradise in Arizona, Mahoning Valley in Ohio, and Turfway in Kentucky. The trend holds to some extent in the featured ninth race, which has an eight-horse field composed of horses that last raced at four separate tracks.

The Wednesday feature is an old-fashioned handicap, carded at five furlongs with weights assigned by the racing secretary at the draw. Bay Muzik shoulders 124 pounds, highest in the field, giving from two to six pounds to his rivals. Bay Muzik last was seen racing at Santa Anita in January for Ari Herbertson. He makes his first start for trainer Bill Morey, who has been working him at the Thoroughbred Training Center outside Lexington, Ky.

Bay Muzik is very fast but is far more proven on turf than dirt, and while his outside draw should help him avoid kickback, Bay Muzik could mainly prove pace fodder Wednesday for more proven main-track performers.

Bay Muzik is listed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite, but Direct Dial could wind up the chalk starting for trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Lane Luzzi. Direct Dial, like Bay Muzik, hasn’t raced since Jan. 26, but he has been posting steady works at Sam Houston for his return start. Direct Dial drew the rail, a tough spot at this short sprint distance for a horse not quick enough to make the lead, and probably would prefer racing a furlong farther.

Several others rate a win chance, but the solid selection is Dame Plata, who carries 122 pounds and is listed at 5-1 on the line. Dame Plata is loaded with quick-twitch muscle power, and at distances of 5 or 5 ½ furlongs he has three wins and a third from four starts, one of those victories a sharp 5 ½-furlong Will Rogers tally just about one year ago. Dame Plata has been posting Will Rogers works like he can repeat that performance for trainer Scott Garrison, who took over this spring for suspended trainer Francisco Bravo. Dame Plata tailed off a bit toward the end of last season, which should only serve to boost his odds Wednesday.