Wicked Temper could be sitting on a good effort in Wednesday allowance feature

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Small fields at Churchill Downs have become well documented, although the problem is not as exaggerated in the fall. That’s evidenced by the fact that there is racing five days a week at the fall meet (versus four-day weeks in the spring and three-day weeks in September), owing largely to a greater availability of 2-year-olds and lighter competition in the region.

A 10-race Wednesday card partly illustrates how fall-meet races have not been as difficult for racing secretary Ben Huffman and his staff to fill. The last four races are comprised of fields of 12 or more, while most of the earlier races drew at least nine.

The lone allowance on the card occupies the usual race 9 feature slot, with an extremely well-matched field vying for a $43,000 purse under a first-level condition and at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The race is so competitive that the morning-line favorite, Naples Gold, has been pegged at 4-1.

For the record, field size through the first 11 of 26 days at this fall meet has averaged 8.41 horses per race. Other recent meets: fall 2013, 8.81; spring 2014, 7.29; and September 2014, 7.70.

First post Wednesday is 12:40 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 4:36.

KEY CONTENDERS

Wicked Temper (Last 3 Beyers: 77-74-65)

◗ The daughter of uber-sire Tapit has come around slowly but encouragingly, having earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure when midpacking a tough Indiana Grand stakes in her latest. She draws the favorable rail slot and a call from leading jockey Corey Lanerie.

Naples Gold (Last 3 Beyers: 76-71-84)

◗ This stretch runner made a huge move in a similar first-level allowance race on closing day of the spring meet, then ran okay as the beaten favorite in a subsequent try in September. Because temporary rails tend to favor speedier horses, she’d likely prefer an against-the-hedge situation Wednesday, so keep tabs on that.

Shift Colors (Last 3 Beyers: 73-67-71)

◗ The Charlie LoPresti barn is full of momentum after winning the River City on Saturday with Villandry, just as this Mizzen Mast filly has picked up steam on her own, having won a fairly tough maiden turf race at Keeneland last out. Her chances probably would be improved with a temporary rail up.

Finn’s Jewel (Last 3 Beyers: 79-79-54)

◗ This southbound Sam-Son Farm homebred has been brought along in typical Giant’s Causeway fashion and seems to be poised for a productive New Orleans winter after those nice back-to-back efforts in Canada.

Conquest Rebel (Last 3 Beyers: 75-67-66)

◗ This tactically handy filly and Miguel Mena will have to overcome the tricky outside post, but that seems doable. Layoff lines have been somewhat questionable, but her consistency has not.