Unbeaten Blofeld kicks off 3-year-old campaign in William Walker
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – While Blofeld went to the sidelines following his juvenile campaign, his reputation continued to soar, thanks to the exploits of some of his key rivals, including a pair of Kentucky Derby hopefuls. The unbeaten colt now looks to reclaim the spotlight Saturday as he comes off the bench for the inaugural running of the $100,000 William Walker Stakes, the opening-night feature under the lights at Churchill Downs.
The six-furlong William Walker anchors opening night in place of the Derby Trial, which has been renamed the Pat Day Mile and shifted to the Kentucky Derby undercard. The new race is named for the black jockey William “Billy” Walker Sr., who won the 1877 Kentucky Derby aboard Baden-Baden.
Blofeld won his debut last August at Saratoga, with El Kabeir third; the latter colt is now a multiple graded stakes winner expected to contest next weekend’s Kentucky Derby. Blofeld then annexed the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont, with multiple stakes winner Cinco Charlie – who also lines up for the William Walker – third and another Kentucky Derby hopeful, Far Right, fourth. Blofeld concluded his unbeaten campaign Nov. 2, winning the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct by five lengths over El Kabeir.
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Blofeld, trained by Todd Pletcher, drew post 2 and will have regular rider John Velazquez aboard.
Talented young sprinter Cinco Charlie has gotten a freshening since finishing second in the Mine That Bird Derby, his first try at 1 1/16 miles, in February. The multiple stakes winner launched his career at Churchill Downs last spring, defeating Far Right in his debut before taking the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes. The Steve Asmussen trainee will break from post 4 under Ricardo Santana Jr.
The William Walker is carded as race 7 on Saturday’s 11-race program, which has a first post of 6 p.m. Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Blofeld (Last 3 Beyers: 93-94-88)
◗ He is unbeaten in three career starts, all as a juvenile, and is making his first start in nearly six months.
◗ He has worked steadily in Florida for his comeback.
◗ Saturday’s forecast in Louisville shows a 90 percent chance of precipitation, with potential thunderstorms. Blofeld romped in the Nashua on a track rated “muddy.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Blofeld. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 62-7-8-9 with a $0.55 ROI over the past five years going route to sprint on dirt following a layoff of 75 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Cinco Charlie (Last 3 Beyers: 76-83-94)
◗ This five-time stakes winner has won both his starts at Churchill Downs.
◗ He won his only try on a sloppy track.
◗ He is tied with Blofeld for the highest career Beyer Speed Figure in the field with a 94.
Weast Hill (Beyers: 84-84)
◗ This Arkansas-bred has won both career starts against fellow statebreds, including the Rainbow Stakes, by a combined 10 3/4 lengths.
◗ His debut win by 7 1/2 lengths came in the slop.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Senor Grits. Trainer Ian Wilkes is 21-7-5-4 with a $3.70 ROI over the past two years in dirt sprints at Churchill with Julien Leparoux aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Holiday Camp. Trainer Bob Baffert 25-11-6-1 with a $2.12 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints at Churchill. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
