Trio hope to sustain heater in crowded turf route

This year has been a supercharged one for trainer Cherie DeVaux, jockey Jose Ortiz, and owner C R K Stable.

DeVaux, on a steady rise in recent years, became the toast of racing this spring as she trained Golden Tempo to win the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. The trainer also has Grade 1 winner Englishman and Grade 2 winner Remember Mamba in the barn. Both race for C R K, which also has graded stakes winners Westwood and Paradise Lake on the West Coast.

Ortiz, the regular rider for Golden Tempo, Englishman, and Remember Mamba, has already won 16 graded stakes this year. He pulled off the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double by riding Always a Runner to win the filly classic, and he also is the regular rider of champion Nitrogen, who won the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps in her most recent start.

Resting on their laurels? Absolutely not. This trio of connections has the favored and aptly named Supercharger in the nominal feature Thursday at Churchill Downs. The finale on the eight-race card is a $127,000 allowance going 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds and up who have never won a race other than a maiden, claiming, or starter allowance, or who have never won two races.

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Supercharger was plagued by poor starts early in his career, getting away slowly or awkwardly as he learned the racing game. He was sixth in his debut last November at Churchill and then fourth, beaten only a half-length with a super late charge, in January on Turfway’s Tapeta. Both maiden races were key, with next-out winners finishing ahead of him.

In a Keeneland maiden race on April 3, Supercharger stumbled at the start and was last of 12 early, but he came on to be second with good interest. He finally put the pieces together on May 9 going this 1 1/8 miles on the Churchill turf. Finally away cleanly, he was well positioned by Ortiz to make an inside move and cleared late to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

Supercharger was eighth early with a better start in his maiden win and will want some pace up front to set up his run. He should get it in this field, which overflowed the entry box.

King of Ashes has been forwardly placed in his best efforts and was stakes-placed on this course last year. He is dangerous if he gets back to his best form in his second start off a layoff. In his return outing, he led early, then got leg-weary late going 1 3/8 miles. Another entrant in this race, My Boy Tony, finished well ahead of him in third. King of Ashes should appreciate both the fitness gained from that effort and a shorter distance.

Mary’s Boy Bolt is coming off a front-running, off-turf allowance win at Churchill. Three others in this field, Telescopic, Demetrius, and Blast Furnace, prefer to be close stalkers but could have their respective hands forced by the post draw and keep the pace honest. Telescopic and Demetrius risk being buried in a big field from posts 1 and 2, respectively, and Blast Furnace will attempt to save ground from the outside.

Rapoport also would benefit if a strong pace develops up front. He must be considered dangerous as he makes his first start after being claimed out of a win for $80,000 by Mike Maker, who has successfully improved a number of claims.

Rothschild makes his first start since July and his first for a new barn with Norm Casse.

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