Weather to have major impact on composition of Elkhorn field
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland and its famously frolicking fans have been fortunate with the weather all spring, but the luck stops here.
Indicative of the warm and dry conditions that have prevailed, not a single turf race has been moved to the main track since the spring meet opened April 7. However, there’s rain and an unseasonable chill in every meteorologist’s forecast for this region for Saturday, and although it’s unlikely that the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes will be forced off the grass, overall conditions will be considerably different from what has been the norm this meet.
A yielding course could lead to a reduction in the original lineup of 11 for the $250,000 Elkhorn, a 1 1/2-mile race for older horses scheduled for turf. Mike Maker has entered four horses in this 32nd running of the three-turn race, but the four-time Keeneland champion trainer said Thursday he is considering running just two of them.
“I’m thinking Bigger Picture and Charming Kitten,” said Maker, implying that Taghleeb and Roman Approval could be scratched, depending on how soggy the turf is.
Bigger Picture, with Jose Ortiz riding from post 5, has been a force in the national turf-marathon niche over the last six months, winning the Grade 3 Red Smith at Aqueduct in November and the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston in late January. In his latest start, Bigger Picture was fourth in a blanket finish in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream Park in early March.
Regardless of the Maker situation, the Elkhorn appears as if it will unfold in predictable fashion, with Chocolate Ride (post 11, Shaun Bridgmohan) the pacesetter while stretching out from shorter races. A multiple graded winner and earner of $580,091, Chocolate Ride is a turf horse of proven quality but is nonetheless venturing into uncharted territory.
“We’ve thought about doing this for the last couple of years, but we’re just now getting to it,” said Brad Cox, who trains the 7-year-old for Genstar Thoroughbreds. “It is a little bit of an unknown. He won’t open up 10, but I imagine he will be on the lead. Hopefully, Shaun can dole out his speed so we can take them all the way.”
Among those likely to give close early pursuit to Chocolate Ride will be Itsinthepost (post 4, Tyler Baze), a Southern California shipper entered off several sharp efforts, ending with a victory in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey on the Santa Anita turf. A contingent of stretch runners includes Danish Dynaformer (post 2, Paco Lopez), whose romp in a first-level turf allowance here in the spring of 2015 came over a yielding course.
The Elkhorn goes as the ninth of 10 races on a card that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 5:30. The sister race to the Elkhorn, the Grade 3 Bewitch, helps close out the 15-day meet next Friday.
The Saturday undercard includes just one other turf event (race 5) as well as a $76,000 allowance (race 3) that drew the track record holder for 6 1/2 furlongs, Limousine Liberal.
After the Elkhorn, Kent Sweezey will make his debut as a solo trainer when he sends out longshot Lela’s Gift in race 10. Sweezey has worked as a top assistant in recent years for several high-profile trainers on both coasts, the latest being Jimmy Jerkens.
KEY CONTENDERS
Bigger Picture, by Badge of Silver
Last 3 Beyers: 98-96-70
◗ This tractable 6-year-old has helped fill a void in the Maker barn in the absence of the injured Da Big Hoss, who won the Elkhorn last year.
Itsinthepost, by American Post
Last 3 Beyers: 98-97-87
◗ This French-bred 5-year-old has been first or second in all but one of his nine starts since Jeff Mullins assumed his training.
Danish Dynaformer, by Dynaformer
Last 3 Beyers: 97-95-98
◗ Hard-knocking 5-year-old could be rounding into peak form for Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield, a four-time winner of the Elkhorn.
Chocolate Ride, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-93
◗ He can be a real tiger out front, and there are major questions here concerning how deep he’ll go and whose hands he forces.