Syndergaard in another league from rivals in William Walker

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill Downs will run 28 stakes with a purse of $100,000 or more at its spring meet. There might not be a heavier favorite than in the first one, which comes Saturday night with the third running of the $100,000 William Walker.

Syndergaard, making his first start since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall, figures to be a tiny price on the Churchill tote when he breaks from the inside post for the high-profile jockey-trainer team of John Velazquez and Todd Pletcher. Seven 3-year-olds are entered in the six-furlong race.

“He is ready to run,” said Pletcher, alluding to a series of 11 workouts that began in early February.

Although Syndergaard – a New York-bred colt named for the star New York Mets pitcher – ended his 2-year-old season with a pair of longer races, Pletcher said he wanted to start this year essentially from scratch.

“I wanted to start him back in a sprint,” said Pletcher.

The Mike Lee Stakes for statebreds on May 29 at Belmont Park was considered as the comeback spot, but Pletcher said he didn’t want to wait that long, with the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on the June 10 Belmont Stakes undercard being his next goal for the colt.

As for the opposition, none has anything close to the credentials that Syndergaard brings to this race: En Hanse and The Money Monster are winners of minor stakes, and the collective form declines from there. Rounding out the cast are Capture the Glory, Classic Cotton, Conquest Wildcat, and Silver Bullion.

The William Walker, first run in 2015, is named for the jockey of 1877 Kentucky Derby winner Baden-Baden. It replaced the anachronistic Derby Trial, which morphed into the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile, which is now part of the Derby undercard.

First post for the Downs After Dark opener is 6 p.m. Eastern, with the Walker (post 10:11) going as the ninth of 11 races. The $65,000 Roxelana (race 4, 7:26), featuring the return of Finley’sluckycharm, anchors the early part of the program.

KEY CONTENDERS

Syndergaard, by Majesticperfection

Last 3 Beyers: 81-88-90

◗ Absolutely sensational at Saratoga last August in his first two starts, this colt then proved his class and mettle when defeated a nose in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont prior to his final start of the season in the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

The Money Monster, by Majestic Warrior

Last 3 Beyers: 0-71-74

◗ He was sold after a couple of promising efforts in Florida to start his career, including a win in the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. In his only attempt for new trainer Bill Mott, he was pulled up in the Tampa Bay Derby.