Restless Rider heads eight-horse field in Golden Rod

Nov 21, 2018 by James Scully/TwinSpires.com

A leading contender for next year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1), Restless Rider will seek to conclude her juvenile season on a winning note when she lines up for Saturday’s $200,000 Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs. The multiple stakes-winning filly heads a field of eight.

As part of the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” series, the 1 1/16-mile Golden Rod offers a combined 17 points to the top four finishers (10-4-2-1). Notable past winners include Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year and Kentucky Oaks heroine. Presumptive 2018 champion three-year-old filly Monomoy Girl, who counts the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) and Kentucky Oaks among her five Grade 1 wins this year, finished a neck second in last year’s Golden Rod.

Restless Rider offered a rally into contention on the far turn but had to settle for second to Jaywalk in the November 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Churchill Downs. A daughter of Distorted Humor, the sire of 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, the Kenny McPeek-trained Restless Rider posted a convincing win in the Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland two starts back and romped by 11 lengths in June’s Debutante Stakes under the Twin Spires. Regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. will be up.

Alcibiades runner-up Reflect will attempt to rebound from a disappointing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Keith Desormeaux trains the late-running Trappe Shot filly and Tyler Gaffalione will pick up the mount.

High Regard exits a third in the October 28 Rags to Riches at Churchill Downs. Completing the field are Champagne Anyone, who will make her stakes debut for Ian Wilkes with a two-race win streak; Princess Causeway, who was last seen capturing an off-the-turf allowance at Keeneland; and last-out maiden winners Break Curfew, Gold Credit and Liora.