Bashford Manor, Debutante highlight Churchill Downs’ closing-day card
Jun 29, 2017
Two-year-olds take center stage at Churchill Downs on Friday, closing day of the 2017 spring meet at the Louisville, Kentucky, track. A pair of juvenile stakes will showcase the talent of up-and-coming runners, who, theoretically, could show up on the first Saturday in May.
The $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) going six furlongs attracted six runners, all of whom broke their maidens in their most recent starts.
Ten City tops the field in terms of BRIS Prime Power (134.6) for trainer Kenny McPeek. The Run Away and Hide colt broke his maiden at first asking by seven lengths at Keeneland on April 19, earning a field-best 98 BRIS Speed rating as well. Robby Albarado was aboard for that contest and retains the mount Friday.
The Steve Asmussen-trained Copper Bullet is not far behind Ten City. The More Than Ready juvenile took two tries to break his maiden, getting the job done at Churchill Downs on May 25 by eight lengths. He earned a 93 BRIS Speed figure and keeps regular rider Florent Geroux in the irons.
Mo Diddley and Hardworkcleanlivin each captured their debuts, the former at Churchill on May 18 and the latter 13 days earlier at Lone Star Park. I’m Corfu and Figjam, who both scored their maiden wins over the all-weather at Presque Isle Downs, complete the field.
Two races after the Bashford Manor, a baker’s dozen of juvenile fillies will take to the track in the $100,000 Debutante Stakes at six furlongs.
Sunny Skies returns to action in this spot following a nine-length maiden debut win at Keeneland on April 27. The chestnut miss is by 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, and will be getting Lasix added for the first time. McPeek will give Albarado a leg up on the filly.
A pair of John Hancock-trained Debutante runners have prior stakes experience. Waki Patriot ran fourth in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill Downs before placing third in the Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park last out on June 8. Amberspatriot just missed by a neck in the Kentucky Juvenile most recently on May 4.
Jon Court has the call on Waki Patriot while Paco Lopez will ride Amberspatriot.
Two of the remaining 10 runners have yet to earn a win while another pair took two tries to get that elusive first victory.
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