Short dash draws deep field of contenders

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Got a minute?

You won’t even need that much time to watch the Thursday feature at Churchill Downs.

A rare five-furlong dirt race is the highlight of the nine-race card as race 8, and it’s sure to go in something like 57 seconds, give or take a few fifths.

Four of the 12 fillies and mares are tightly grouped between 7-2 and 9-2 as lukewarm favorites on the Churchill morning line in the $134,000 second-level allowance. Those odds speak to what a deeply competitive field this is.

Ari Oakley, with Luis Saez riding from post 4, figures sharp off a 4 1/2-month layoff for Steve Asmussen. The Stonestreet Stables homebred is a 3-year-old Gun Runner filly who was last seen knocking out her first allowance condition in a six-furlong sprint at Churchill in late June.

Right alongside in post 3, Altered Shot has never finished worse than third in 10 races at Churchill, a remarkably consistent record that would seem to make her a must-use for bettors in their vertical plays. The Greg Foley trainee most recently was second as the 8-5 favorite in a six-furlong race for these same conditions at the September meet. Tyler Gaffalione rides.

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Minute Waltz (post 2, Rafael Bejarano) was a romping winner two starts back going 5 1/2 furlongs on the Churchill dirt for Phil Bauer, who continues to enjoy a breakout year in wins and stable earnings. Bauer had his first Breeders’ Cup starter Friday when Xigera finished 14th in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Ava’s Grace (post 5, David Cohen) has shown herself a graded stakes-caliber filly, having finished third or better in the Adirondack, Fantasy, and La Troienne. This distance may be a tad short, but she figures fresh off a four-month layoff making her first start in the care of trainer Ricky Courville.

Other considerations include Miss T Too (post 6, Florent Geroux), an up-and-down sort making her first start in the care of Michael McCarthy; and Perfect Happiness (post 12, Francisco Arrieta), who surely will be setting sail from the outside gate when she returns from a five-month-plus layoff. Perfect Happiness is one of three entries in for the optional $80,000 claiming tag, along with Maybe I Will and Alberta Sun.

Earlier in the day, a $120,000 maiden-special route for fillies is carded on the turf as race 3. The new Churchill turf course is being used sparingly at the 19-day fall meet, although at least five grass races are scheduled for the rest of this week – another maiden-special Friday; three Claiming Crown events Saturday; and the Grade 3 River City on Sunday.

Purses listed here include substantial bonuses restricted to registered Kentucky-breds.

The Thursday card starts at 1 p.m. Eastern. Ideal fall weather is expected throughout the entire week in this region.

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