Turning for Home a better fit for Majestic Affair
A week ago, Majestic Affair was the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Donald LeVine Memorial at Parx Racing, but trainer Chad Brown declared him from the race and instead worked him a half-mile. On Saturday, Majestic Affair is the 8-5 program pick in the Turning for Home Stakes at Parx.
The seven-furlong LeVine would have been a good spot for Majestic Affair, but the 1 1/16-mile Turning for Home looks even better. In the LeVine, Majestic Affair likely would have been a tepid favorite over A. P. Indian, who won by three lengths and earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure.
On Saturday, the Turning for Home looks like Majestic Affair and then everyone else. Majestic Affair also is drawn better. In the LeVine, he had post 1 and would have been chasing the quicker A. P. Indian while down along the inside. In the six-horse Turning for Home, he has room to breathe from post 4.
“I like him better at two turns,” Brown said. “I entered him in the race a week ago just to take a look. He drew the rail, and I didn’t like the setup, so we scratched.”
Majestic Affair was primarily a sprinter last year at age 3, but he has shown more versatility in 2016, winning the mile-and-70-yard Jazil Stakes at Aqueduct in January and finishing second by a head to Page McKenney in the seven-furlong General George at Laurel Park in February.
He will be taking a substantial class drop Saturday after finishing third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths, in the Grade 2, $400,000 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs. Never far back, Majestic Affair bid for the lead between horses on the far turn of that 1 1/16-mile race before flattening out late and getting nailed for second in the final strides.
Adirondack King, trained by John Servis, and Encryption, trained by Kelly Breen, are Majestic Affair’s chief rivals.
Turning for Home Stakes, Race 5
Key Contenders
Majestic Affair, by Majesticperfection
Last 3 Beyers: 98-81-101
◗ In his lone prior start at Parx, Majestic Affair won a first-level allowance race going seven furlongs in October 2014.
◗ Brown has given the mount to Parx-based Joshua Navarro.
Adirondack King, by Lawyer Ron
Last 3 Beyers: 96-96-92
◗ He was second to Bradester in the Majestic Light Stakes at Monmouth Park in his last start. Bradester came back to win the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs last Saturday.
◗ He has won six races at Parx and is 1 for 23 elsewhere. He did win the Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in March.
Encryption, by Exchange Rate
Last 3 Beyers: 85-79-98
◗ He finished third in the Majestic Light, beaten 8 3/4 lengths by Bradester and 6 1/2 by runner-up Adirondack King. That was Encryption’s first start of the year, and he has turned in three sharp works since. Expect improvement.
◗ In his lone Parx start, he won the $150,000 Bayern Stakes last September.