Take Charge Paula tackles two turns in Pocahontas

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Clemson won’t be the only visitor to Central Avenue looking to leave Louisville with a victory Saturday.

Kelly Breen is one of the Thoroughbred trainers who shipped to town this week looking to solidify his position for later in the season – just like the Clemson football team will do Saturday night a few furlongs down the street at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

Take Charge Paula, undefeated in two starts, will be saddled by Breen as one of the top contenders in the Grade 2, $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes, the last and perhaps deepest of four straight stakes that culminate a terrific 11-race Saturday card at Churchill Downs.

Based in his home state of New Jersey, Breen is eager to see whether his latest stable star can effectively stretch out to 1 1/16 miles and draw a critical step closer to a championship. The Pocahontas is a Win and You’re In event toward the Nov. 3-4 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, as well as the first points race (10-4-2-1) toward the 2018 Kentucky Oaks.

“We’ll see if she can handle two turns,” said Breen. “She’s done well so far sprinting, but this is a great spot for us to see if we pass that test.”

Take Charge Paula has been untouchable in winning both career starts as an odds-on favorite. Owned by Bruce Tallisman, the Kentucky-bred filly won her debut at Monmouth Park before galloping in a stakes at Delaware Park.

The Pocahontas represents her toughest assignment by far, but that’s probably true for the other 11 fillies, too. The deep cast includes the respective one-two-three finishers in the Ellis Park Debutante last month – Kelly’s Humor, Upset Brewing, and Sunny Skies – along with an interesting mix of out-of-towners and locals.

Kelly’s Humor, trained by Brad Cox, got a well-timed ride from Shaun Bridgmohan in rallying to upset the seven-furlong Debutante at 11-1.

“That showed us she’s wanting more ground,” said Cox. “She’s worked really well since then and acts like she’s ready for more.”

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Sunny Skies, winner of the Churchill version of the Debutante on closing day of the spring meet for Kenny McPeek, is from the first crop of 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom.

“Animal Kingdom didn’t have any problems with distance, and we don’t think this filly will, either,” said McPeek. “She ought to move up off that last race.”

Sunny Skies flashed her precocity in a Keeneland maiden race prior to her Debutante triumph.

“We know she’s fast,” said McPeek. “Now we need to see how far she can carry it.”

Among the many other Pocahontas possibilities are Snowfire, regrouped by Mark Casse since finishing fourth as the favorite in the Grade 3 Schuylerville at Saratoga off a sharp maiden victory at Churchill; Harbor Lights, a three-length winner of her Aug. 12 debut at Ellis for Steve Asmussen; Primo Extremo, an Ohio-based invader with a 2-for-2 record; and Firstmate, whose victory as a first-time starter in a stakes at Canterbury Park last month was a real eye-catcher.

The balance of the field is Lady Freedom, Vision of Justice, Sultry, and Patrona Margarita.

This is the 49th running of the Pocahontas, which has been won in prior years by such eventual major winners as My Juliet (1974), Epitome (1987), Unbridled Elaine (2000), On Fire Baby (2011), and Untapable (2013). McPeek won the 2016 renewal with Daddys Lil Darling, who was an easy winner last weekend of the Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs.

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The Saturday card starts at 12:45 p.m. Eastern and ends with the Pocahontas, which is scheduled for 5:20 as not only as the last of 11 races, but also as the last of an all-stakes pick four. The other stakes are the Grade 3, $100,000 Locust Grove (race 8), the $100,000 Open Mind (race 9), and the Grade 3, $150,000 Iroquois (race 10).

The seven races that precede the stakes include five maiden-special events – all with fields of 11 or more – and a pair of allowances. The only time the claims clerk will need to be on duty Saturday is for the third race, when a $62,500 claiming option is attached to a two-other-than condition. Several trainers have a slew of entries in the maiden races, led by McPeek with seven.

The Saturday program precedes an 8 p.m. kickoff to a Clemson-Louisville game, which has been a hot topic for days in this area and in college-football circles. ESPN’s Game Day will be broadcasting live from the nearby University of Louisville campus throughout the day, and thousands of football fans can be expected to make the slight detour to pre-game at Churchill amid perfect weather (sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s). Under similar circumstances two years ago, supporters of both teams added considerably to the ontrack crowd before leaving for the stadium.

◗ It was incorrectly reported in the Friday editions of Daily Racing Form that Gate 17 will be closed during ongoing construction at Churchill. The gate will remain open as usual to racegoers.