Turf or dirt? That's the key question at Churchill

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – If Thursday’s eighth race at Churchill Downs, a $52,000 first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies, is run as scheduled on turf, Share the Sugar seems a standout. She is coming off a fast-closing fourth-place finish at Keeneland on grass behind Wonder Again Stakes winner Sea Queen.

Mother Nature might have a say in the matter, though. Thunderstorms are forecast for Louisville on Wednesday, with rain potentially lingering into early Thursday morning. Wet weather could prompt Churchill Downs to move the eighth race – the lone turf race on the nine-race card – to the main track.

That could tilt the balance of power from Share the Sugar to Courageous Julie and main-track-only entrant Another Blue.

Both Courageous Julie and Another Blue have won on dirt, and Courageous Julie was competitive in graded stakes on dirt this year, finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Honeybee and fifth in the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park. Most recently, she ran sixth of nine in the Edgewood Stakes on grass on Kentucky Oaks Day.

Another Blue is not as battle tested as Courageous Julie but has other virtues. She is coming off a local dirt win and joining high-percentage trainer Tom Amoss off a claim from a maiden $50,000 race. Amoss adds blinkers to her equipment and has named Robby Albarado to ride.

The race drew a field of 10, plus four also-eligibles.

The seventh race is another first-level allowance with a $52,000 purse but at 1 1/16 miles on dirt.

Marathon Lady, four times graded stakes-placed last year as a 3-year-old, is the class of the race and eligible to improve upon her 2014 debut, a distant third at Churchill on May 9.

Last year, in some of her better efforts, she ran a close second in the Black-Eyed Susan behind Fiftyshadesofhay, third behind Close Hatches in the Mother Goose, and third behind Princess of Sylmar in the Coaching Club American Oaks.

Her principal foes Thursday include recent maiden winners Miracle Run and Senior Prom, plus Tap Twenty One, who was second twice in April at Keeneland in allowances on Polytrack.