Vanbrugh gets distance test in U.S. debut

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Vanbrugh is a Juddmonte Farms homebred gelding making his first start in North America after being sent to Brad Cox.

The unveiling of Vanbrugh in the Thursday feature at Churchill Downs is very similar to that of Set Piece, a Juddmonte gelding who won last Friday at Churchill in his Stateside debut after beginning his racing career in Europe.

“I hope the results are the same with this horse,” said Cox, the leading trainer at the Churchill spring meet with just seven of 26 cards remaining.

Vanbrugh, as with Set Piece, will have Florent Geroux aboard as part of a field of 10 older horses. The 5-year-old son of First Defence will break from the rail going 1 1/16 miles on the turf in the $85,000 third-level allowance, which ends a nine-race Thursday card.

Set Piece scarcely could have been more impressive when he overcame a slow start to win going away with a 93 Beyer Speed Figure. Cox said Vanbrugh has been sharp in his training, “although I’m not sure he’s a two-turn horse.”

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“This was a good opportunity to find the right kind of spot, and we want to see where we are with him,” he said.

Vanbrugh, a winner in 3 of 15 starts, is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line, just behind his next-gate neighbor, Dontblamerocket (Julien Leparoux). Claimed at Churchill by Justin Nicholson and partners for $50,000 a little more than a year ago, Dontblamerocket proceeded to win three straight for trainer Norman Casse, merging into the stakes ranks as he went. This race marks his first since the 6-year-old gelding finished second in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial at Fair Grounds nearly three months ago.

The Thursday finale is the last of three allowances, all of them part of the late pick four (races 6-9). They’re also part of the Single 6 (races 4-9), which starts the week with a jackpot of $95,296.

Race 6 is an $81,000 first-level turf mile in which Lontano, Shackleford’s Joy, and Letmeno are among the program favorites in a well-matched field of 3-year-olds. Race 8 is an $81,000 first-level race in which Get the Prize figures as a solid favorite for trainer Al Stall Jr. when facing six other 3-year-olds and up going seven furlongs on the main track.

The Thursday card also includes a loaded maiden special weight dash (race 4) for 2-year-olds fillies, many of them with rich pedigrees representing high-profile stables. Mad Maddy, a daughter of American Pharoah, is the likely favorite for Steve Asmussen.

Churchill continues to conduct racing without spectators, although as of June 6, a limited number of owners are being permitted to attend their horses’ races, with numerous coronavirus-related restrictions being enforced. Jockeys continue to wear masks, even during the races.

First post every day is 1 p.m. Eastern.

Dry and warm conditions are in the local forecast all the way through Saturday.