Spectacular Gem must overcome pace pressure, softer course in Commonwealth Turf

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jimmy Baker was asked whether he is more concerned with the condition of the Churchill Downs turf course for Saturday or all the opposing speed that will surround Spectacular Gem in the featured Commonwealth Turf.

“Both,” he said with a laugh.

Spectacular Gem and jockey James Graham were left alone on the lead in the Sept. 28 Jefferson Cup over a firm Churchill turf, and the bay colt took full advantage when registering a 1 3/4-length upset at 9-1. Circumstances will be much different Saturday with an oversubscribed lineup that includes several other front-running types and a course that surely will have plenty of cut in the ground.

The forecast for Saturday calls for pleasant conditions and a high of 50, but the effects of preceding days will still be felt. A soaking rain Thursday forced turf races to the main track, and sub-freezing overnight temperatures Friday were expected to inhibit the drying-out process of the turf course.

In addition, “you’ve got to be concerned with all the speed in against us,” said Baker, who trains Spectacular Gem on behalf of his wife, the former Candie Wigginton. “I mean, he doesn’t have to be on the lead, although you’d have to think he’ll be close.”

Graham will have a return call when Spectacular Gem breaks from post 6.

In all, 16 3-year-olds are entered in the 1 1/16-mile Commonwealth, but only as many as 14 can start. Some Churchill turf races are limited to 10, but the maximum is 14 for certain stakes.

Spectacular Gem, a mere $20,000 yearling purchase, suddenly came to prominence among regional 3-year-old turf runners by finishing first (although disqualified to fourth) at 35-1 in the $200,000 Caesars in early September at Indiana Grand. He validated that effort by wiring the 1 1/8-mile Jefferson Cup, and the respective second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers – Tracksmith, Faraway Kitten, and Clint Maroon – will all take another crack at him Saturday.

The rivals who can be expected to take an early fight to Spectacular Gem include Osage Moon, who posted back-to-back on-the-lead wins over the Woodbine turf in September, and Knicks Go, a quick gray colt stretching out from seven furlongs when trying grass for the first time. Other pace possibilities include Pirate’s Punch, another making his turf debut, and Louder Than Bombs, a last-out wire-to-wire winner going a turf mile at Keeneland.

The prospect of a ruinous pace and a laboring turf clearly would favor a stalking or closing type and therefore throw this wide-open. Able sorts to fit that profile include any of the trio who chased home Spectacular Gem in the Jefferson Cup, as well as Marquee Prince, a stakes-seasoned colt with a useful recent comeback win for Brad Cox, and Armistice Day, winner of the Toronto Cup over the Woodbine turf in July for Barbara Minshall.

First post Saturday is 1 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 5:36 p.m. (and run with the lights on) as the 10th of 11 races. Three allowances (races 6, 7, 9) precede the Commonwealth on another solid program.

This is the 16th running of the Commonwealth, which has been won by such notables as Get Stormy (2009), Lea (2012), and Heart to Heart (2014). The 2018 winner was Hot Springs for Woodford Racing and Steve Asmussen.