Spelling Again escapes heavyweights in Winning Colors

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Spelling Again captured the Grade 2 Chilukki last fall at Churchill Downs but hasn’t won since then.

And here are three good reasons why: Taris, Sheer Drama, and Cavorting. Those were the winners of the graded races Spelling Again found in the interim.

“Pretty tough stock,” said Brad Cox, who trains Spelling Again for the Louisville-based Seajay Racing LLC.

On Saturday, back home at Churchill, Spelling Again figures prominently among a field of seven fillies and mares in the Grade 3, $100,000 Winning Colors, the highlight of an excellent 11-race card that also includes the $65,000 Keertana.

Shaun Bridgmohan will be reunited with Spelling Again, who was claimed last May for $40,000 at Santa Anita. Bridgmohan rode the now-5-year-old Pennsylvania-bred mare to victory in the ungraded Open Mind and the Chilukki last year at Churchill. Since then, Spelling Again has run third to Taris in the Go for Wand at Aqueduct, seventh behind Sheer Drama and Stopchargingmaria in the Madison at Keeneland, and third behind Cavorting in the Ruffian at Belmont.

“She bounced out of the Belmont race really well, so we thought we’d shorten her up from a mile and see what happens,” said Cox. “Obviously, she likes this surface, and it’s home.”

Super Saks figures to make the lead from the outside post in the six-furlong Winning Colors, which could afford Spelling Again a great stalking trip from post 6.

Other contenders in this 13th running of the Winning Colors include Enchanting Lady, third in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on Kentucky Derby Day for Bob Baffert; Wrath of Ruthie, 3 for 5 and trained by Steve Asmussen; Fioretti, the upset winner of the Grade 2 TCA Stakes last fall at Keeneland; and the one-two finishers in a Derby week allowance, Diva Express and I’m a Looker.

The Winning Colors is the 10th race on a Saturday card that starts at 12:45 p.m. Eastern. Post time for the feature is 5:21.

The Keertana (race 6, 3:15), a 1 1/2-mile turf race, drew a well-matched field of eight fillies and mares, with Al’s Gal, Salama, Street of Gold, and Annulment among a core of favorites. Three allowances (races 3, 8, 9) also are on tap.

There are no stakes here Sunday or Memorial Day, the lone Monday card of the 38-day spring meet.

KEY CONTENDERS

Spelling Again, by Awesome Again

Last 3 Beyers: 84-86-88

◗ The turnback from a mile to six furlongs can be a little tricky, but she has the speed and versatility to stay close enough to make an effective late run.

Enchanting Lady, by Tale of the Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 87-90-87

◗ Four-year-old filly won stakes at 2 and 3, and she’ll be one of the wagering choices here with Florent Geroux getting the mount.

Wrath of Ruthie, by Distorted Humor

Last 3 Beyers: 76-74-75

◗ Purchased as a yearling for $650,000, she was all the rage here last fall when she started her career with back-to-back 92 Beyer Speed Figures.