Turf-sprint feature helps kick off Derby Week racing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Under other circumstances, it’d be just a hum-drum program. But then there’s that.

Derby Week starts Tuesday at Churchill Downs with a nine-race card ostensibly highlighted by a single allowance race, but that misses the broader context: five straight days of exciting racing action starts right here, culminating Saturday with the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby.

The Tuesday feature is the eighth race, a $52,000, first-level allowance that drew an oversubscribed field of turf sprinters. Malibu Charlie, fresh off a Gulfstream Park maiden romp that earned a field-high 90 Beyer Speed Figure, is the morning-line favorite for owner-trainer Brian Lynch.

One of the more interesting earlier races Tuesday is for 2-year-old maiden fillies (race 2), with Wesley Ward sending out the program choice in Point of No Return.

First post for the lone Tuesday card of this 38-day spring meet is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the feature going at 4:27 and the last race at 4:59.

First post through Thursday will be 12:45, with the Kentucky Oaks (Friday) and Derby programs both starting at 10:30 a.m.

KEY CONTENDERS

Malibu Charlie (Last 3 Beyers: 90-86-53)

◗ This gelding was risked twice for claiming tags before suddenly breaking loose with that big fig in a maiden-special romp over the Gulfstream grass in an effort that would seem to make him the one to beat here.

Simple Interest (Last 3 Beyers: 75-77-67)

◗ From the folks that gave you the standout turf-sprinting mare Good Deed, this gelding stands to benefit from his last two outings at Fair Grounds while eligible to get a nice inside stalking trip here.

Dion (Last 3 Beyers: 65-75-73)

◗ The switch to turf is an obvious question for a Steve Asmussen-trained 3-year-old who came along steadily this spring before going through his maiden condition in his last start at Oaklawn Park.

Galton (Last 3 Beyers: 80-89-74)

◗ More experienced than most of the others with 15 lifetime starts, this gelding figures as an obvious contender when making his second start since being claimed by Midwest Thoroughbreds.

Latent Revenge (Last 3 Beyers: 83-43-73)

◗ This speedy colt blitzed Fair Grounds maidens when making his grass debut eight weeks ago for Greg Foley, whose spring meet got off to a solid start Saturday night with a victory and a just-miss second.