Sky Captain back from layoff in Sunday turf-mile feature
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The midway point of the Churchill Downs fall meet could prove to be a key starting point for a comebacking turf standout named Sky Captain.
Unraced since victory barely eluded him in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day, Sky Captain will return to action as a solid favorite in the featured race Sunday, the 11th of 21 days at a meet that runs through Nov. 29.
Sky Captain, owned by John Oxley, finished just a head behind Finnegans Wake in a blanket finish May 2 in the Woodford before being disqualified from second to fourth for stretch interference.
That showing marked Sky Captain as a potential player in the upper ranks of his division, but in the two-plus months that followed, “he wasn’t happy here, so he got a break at our farm in Ocala [Winding Oaks],” said Norm Casse, the son and assistant of trainer Mark Casse. “He’s been doing great down there. We were going to wait for Gulfstream, but this is a perfect race to start him back.”
Conditions for the $68,000 allowance, to be run at a mile on turf, limit the field to horses who have not won twice “other than” since June 1, 2014, along with those being risked for a $100,000 claiming tag. Sky Captain, with Julien Leparoux to ride, was assigned post 9 in a field of 12 3-year-olds and up (including two main-track-only designees) in the 10th of 11 Sunday races.
Two $60,000 allowances (races 1 and 3) anchor the early portion of the program. After Sunday, Churchill goes dark for two days before another five-day week resumes Wednesday. First post daily is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sky Captain (Last 3 Beyers: 100-99-91)
◗ This 5-year-old son of Sky Mesa has had five workouts at Winding Oaks since late September in prepping toward this, and he should be a little sharper than normal when returning fresh; his quality is proven.
Knights Nation (Last 3 Beyers: 85-60-88)
◗ Named for the supportive community of the Bellarmine University Knights, this 5-year-old gelding comes well drawn in post 2 as one of four horses in here entered for the optional tag.
Regally Ready (Last 3 Beyers: 79-84-88)
◗ A Breeders’ Cup winner (2011 Turf Sprint) in seemingly another lifetime, this 8-year-old gelding is in the twilight of his terrific career but still continues to contend at these levels.
Greengrassofyoming (Last 3 Beyers: 89-90-91)
◗ This useful 5-year-old has had his races liberally spaced this year while remaining competitive. He must overcome the outside post when returning from a seven-week layoff.