Speightster lands in tough spot for comeback race in Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures tend to make any given horse a standout, but they’re a dime a dozen in the 82nd running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Churchill Downs, one of the many terrific undercard stakes on Kentucky Derby Day.

All but two of the nine older horses in a well-matched field earned a 100 Beyer or higher in their last race or two, and the result is a handicapping jumble to enhance the Derby experience.

Speightster, an unbeaten 4-year-old colt making his first start in 10 months, sports the flashiest form, while Salutos Amigos and Kobe’s Back are established stretch runners ready to gobble up any who even think of faltering. Calculator, Barbados, Limousine Liberal, and Holy Boss add to a perplexing mix that sticks to a daylong theme of exceedingly competitive racing.

Speightster was training toward the King’s Bishop last summer when diagnosed with an ankle injury.

“He had a tiny chip taken out,” said trainer Bill Mott. “He’s certainly come back to work very well.”

Salutos Amigos, trained and co-owned by David Jacobson, is the lone millionaire in the field and comes off back-to-back last-to-first scores in the Grade 3 Tom Fool and Grade 1 Carter, both at Aqueduct.

Kobe’s Back, trained by Peter Eurton, also comes off consecutive wins after rallying to capture the Grade 2 Palos Verdes and Grade 2 San Carlos, both at Santa Anita.

The Churchill Downs, long a Derby Day staple, dates to 1911. The 2015 edition was won by Private Zone, ridden by Martin Pedroza.

Post time for the Churchill Downs, the seventh of 14 Saturday races, is 1:55 p.m. Eastern.

Churchill Downs, Race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Salutos Amigos, by Salute the Sarge

Last 3 Beyers: 102-104-100

◗ Earner of more than $1.5 million epitomizes the typecast of a late-running sprinter and has been pegged as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for his high-percentage New York-based stable.

Speightster, by Speightstown

Last 3 Beyers: 104-98-90

◗ Sired by the 2004 Churchill Downs winner, Speightstown (who also has Barbados in here), he’s the wild card of the group while coming off the bench to make his first start against older horses.

Kobe’s Back, by Flatter

Last 3 Beyers: 98-101-98

◗ A decent break is often a key for a notoriously slow-starting gray whose late kick can be breathtaking.

Calculator, by In Summation

Last 3 Beyers: 102-94-89

◗ Like Kobe’s Back, he’s another gray stretch runner from California who will be hitting his best stride late.

Limousine Liberal, by Successful Appeal

Last 3 Beyers: 100-85-93

◗ K.K. Ball homebred lowered the Keeneland track record for 6 1/2 furlongs in his latest and enters in razor-sharp form.

Holy Boss, by Street Boss

Last 3 Beyers: 100-100-94

◗ Stakes-savvy Steve Asmussen-trained 4-year-old may have a tactical edge as the outside speed, which could afford him a great trip.

Barbados, by Speightstown

Last 3 Beyers: 100-88-83

◗ Multiple stakes winner has the speed and versatility to make his presence felt in what’s clearly a wicked dash.