Stars coming out for stakes during Derby week

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Besides their Kentucky Derby horses, top trainers Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, and Todd Pletcher will be running some of their other stable stars at Churchill Downs next week in supporting stakes on the Kentucky Oaks (Friday) and Derby (Saturday) programs.

Here’s a quick rundown of next week’s stakes:

◗ $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile (Thursday): Wesley Ward, who has dominated the Keeneland meet with his 2-year-olds, said Thursday he had yet to decide which of his seven nominees will run in this five-furlong highlight of the “Thurby” card. Shanghaied Roo leads the rest.

◗ Grade 1, $350,000 La Troienne (Friday): Abel Tasman, the 2017 Oaks winner for Baffert, will make her eagerly awaited return to action as a heavy favorite in this 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. A short field appears likely, according to Churchill stakes coordinator Dan Bork.

◗ Grade 2, $400,000 Alysheba (Friday): Always Dreaming, the 2017 Derby winner for Pletcher, will make his second start as a 4-year-old after finishing second in the March 31 Gulfstream Park Mile. Good Samaritan, the winner of the New Orleans Handicap last out, could go favored in this 1 1/16-mile race.

◗ Grade 2, $200,000 Eight Belles (Friday): This seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies is shaping up as a deep one, with Gas Station Sushi, Mia Mischief, Kram, and possibly Amy’s Challenge and Kelly’s Humor opting out of the Oaks.

◗ Grade 3, $200,000 Edgewood (Friday): Brown is considering the unbeaten standout Rushing Fall, who would be a big favorite if she goes in this 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies. Others include Altea, Daddy Is a Legend, Heavenly Love, and Toinette.

◗ Grade 3, $200,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (Friday): Bucchero, the Indiana-bred standout trained by Tim Glyshaw, could be a slight choice in a sizable field of older turf sprinters.

◗ Grade 1, $500,000 Old Forester Turf Classic (Saturday): Beach Patrol will make his 5-year-old debut for Brown in the 1 1/8-mile turf race formerly sponsored by Woodford Reserve. The opposition will include Deauville, Arklow, Shining Copper, Synchrony, and Channel Maker.

◗ Grade 1, $300,000 Humana Distaff (Saturday): Pletcher is considering Ivy Bell for this seven-furlong race, which shapes up to be a really good one with Finley’sluckycharm, American Gal, and Lewis Bay being joined by the California standout Skye Diamonds.

◗ Grade 2, $500,000 Churchill Downs (Saturday): Limousine Liberal, the winner of this race last year, will be part of a terrific lineup that also will include Imperial Hint, McCraken, Outplay, and Petrov.

◗ Grade 2, $300,000 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (Saturday): California shippers Juno, Madam Dancealot, and Madame Stripes are among another excellent field.

◗ Grade 2, $300,000 American Turf (Saturday): River Boyne and Untamed Domain will be part of a big field of 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the grass, along with Maraud and Threeandfourpence.

◗ Grade 3, $300,000 Pat Day Mile (Saturday): Mask, trained by Brown, is among several former Derby hopefuls in what is expected to be a big field of 3-year-olds, along with Greyvitos, Givemeaminit, Mississippi, National Flag, and New York Central.