Tom's Regret brings solid Beyer Figure into Kentucky Juvenile

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Several juveniles who kicked off their careers at the recently concluded Keeneland spring meeting will be making the short trip down the highway to contest Thursday’s $200,000 Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs. Undertaking a longer trip will be Tom’s Regret, a runaway debut winner at Santa Anita last month. They all are part of a well-matched group of 12 set to tangle in the year’s first stakes race for juveniles.

Hurricane Debbie, one of three fillies in this field along with Tom’s Regret and Baytown Lovely, was the fastest of this field’s five Keeneland maiden winners. She posted an eight-length win for Wesley Ward on April 14, running the 4 1/2 furlongs, the traditional distance of those early-season heats, in 52.06 seconds. Simply Super won in 52.33 on April 20; Mr. Gordy won in 53.09 on April 13; King Adrock was a five-length winner on opening day in 53;16; and Baytown Lovely won on April 10 in 54.36.

Every member of this field goes five furlongs for the first time, which trainer John Hancock said will suit Mr. Gordy, one of his charges.

“Mr. Gordy went as fast as he went, and wasn’t pushed or shoved,” Hancock said. “He had more in the tank.”

Tom’s Regret wasn’t asked to face much in her debut on April 15 at Santa Anita, facing just three other California-bred fillies. What she tackled, she conquered, however, rolling by 11 1/2 lengths in 52.22 seconds. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 79, an outstanding number for a juvenile at this point of the season. The Keeneland races were not assigned figures.

“She showed me talent and ability in her works,” trainer Jorge Periban said. “She didn’t surprise me. She’s a nice filly. … She’s a Cal-bred, but I feel she’ll do well in open company.”

Tom’s Regret is drawn on the rail in this large field, and will certainly have to fire out of the gate again to avoid being swallowed up by traffic.

The other winner in this field is Ferrari Kid, who won a race going just two furlongs at Parx on April 26.

With the 2-year-old season still nascent, five members of this field are still maidens, with two, Cool Spirit and Hill of Tara, having yet to even start. Ryvit and Lone Leader were second and third, respectively, to Mr. Gordy on debut. Lone Leader is also trained by Hancock.

“Lone Leader broke a little bad, came running, and got beat the last jump or two out of second,” Hancock said. “There’s speed in the race. If they back up, Lone Leader’s gonna be right there.”

Rounding out the prior starters is The Big Wam, entered back quickly by Luis Mendez after running second in an April 28 maiden at Keeneland.