Stand Tall may swing back in Dowager Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Stand Tall, a winner of a second-level allowance here Wednesday, is a possibility to run back on 10 days’ rest in the Oct. 24 Dowager, trainer Rusty Arnold said Friday.

“We’re thinking about it,” said Arnold. “You’ve got to get a little aggressive at the end of the year, especially with no turf racing coming up at Churchill” during the fall meet because of the ongoing turf-course renovation. “There’s a good chance we’ll do that, depending on how she acts once we get her back training.”

Gaffalione to the fore

There were still three days left in this race week at Keeneland prior to the start of the Friday card, and Tyler Gaffalione already had collected seven wins between the first two days this week, assuming control of the local jockey standings.

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Gaffalione won four of eight Wednesday races, then booted home three more winners Thursday to bring his meet to total to 10. Gaffalione rode four winners on the final day (Oct. 3) of the recent meet at Churchill to earn his fifth straight meet title at the Louisville track.

Fillies drill toward Del Mar

A couple of hopefuls for the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar put in swift five-furlong breezes on this circuit a couple mornings apart.

Hidden Connection, a last-out winner of the Pocahontas for Bret Calhoun, went in 59.40 seconds Thursday at Churchill, while Tarabi, runner-up in the Spinaway for Cherie DeVaux, went in 59.80 seconds Friday at Keeneland.

◗ The new $3 minimum Keeneland Turf Pick 3 will begin a bit earlier Sunday than on most recent cards and will comprise races 3-6-8. The bet will be held regardless of whether turf racing has to be transferred to the main track, although that scenario is unlikely for Sunday in view of a local forecast of sunshine for Saturday and Sunday.

◗ Frank Hopf, director of racing at Sam Houston, was a visitor to Churchill and Keeneland last week when recruiting horsemen for the winter meet (Jan. 6 to April 9) at the Texas track.