Top Billing seeks improvement in second start off layoff
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Top Billing was supposed to arrive in Kentucky last spring as a top Derby prospect, but injury cut short those hopes. Patiently regrouped following surgery last March for a cracked cannon bone, the 4-year-old colt will make a belated appearance a year later as part of a very competitive field of 11 older horses in the last of four allowance races Wednesday at Keeneland.
Trained by Shug McGaughey for Will Farish and E.J. Hudson Jr., Top Billing will be making his second start following a one-year layoff in the eighth of nine races, a $62,000, second-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles that carries a $62,500 claiming option. In his return to action Feb. 22 at Gulfstream Park, the son of Curlin finished a no-threat fourth, a performance upon which McGaughey clearly is hoping the colt will improve with a race under his belt.
The weather forecast for Wednesday calls for a 40 percent chance of rain after another series of storms was supposed to roll through the Central Kentucky region Tuesday.
First post Wednesday is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the eighth going at 4:42.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Top Billing. Trainer Shug McGaughey is 15-0-2-1 over the past two years in dirt routes in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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The preceding allowances go as races 3, 5, and 7, with the third race, a $64,000, third-level route, actually being the richest race of the day. That one drew just six starters, with Rapscallion and Transparent among the top threats.
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KEY CONTENDERS
Top Billing (Last 3 Beyers: 84-97-90)
◗ No doubt his comeback effort was disappointing, but he stands to benefit from his first race in a full year, especially after having three more workouts at Payson Park before shipping north.
◗ Despite the last one, it’s obvious that some of his better efforts early in his 3-year-old season make him a major threat at this level.
Matrooh (Beyer: 90)
◗ He looked like a world-beater when romping to a 2 3/4-length victory last month at Gulfstream after undergoing a number of significant changes prior to his North American debut: first Lasix, first-time gelding, first time on dirt, and first time in the care of trainer Chad Brown.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Matrooh. Trainer Chad Brown is 29-10-8-2 with a $2.52 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes with last-out winners in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Embellishing Bob (Last 3 Beyers: 87-86-87)
◗ Winner of the final Derby Trial in Churchill history last spring on the disqualification of Bayern, this 4-year-old now has had two useful Fair Grounds sprints after finishing second in the Iowa Derby.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Steve Margolis shows excellent numbers with stretchout runners (21 percent win percentage and a $2.79 return on investment in 2014-15).
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Embellishing Bob. Trainer Steve Margolis is 29-7-5-6 with a $2.75 ROI over the past two years going sprint to route on dirt. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Songsational (Beyers: 82-90)
◗ Understandably, trainer Tom Proctor is high on this unbeaten son of Unbridled’s Song, who has had three works since winning on the Tampa Bay Derby undercard.
◗ This colt has the needed foundation to show what he can do as he takes a substantial step up in class.