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American Turf a backup plan for Setsuko

Setsuko will get his shot at glory under the Twin Spires in the American Turf (Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs) It's not the race the connections of SETSUKO (Pleasantly Perfect) preferred to run in at Churchill Downs this week, but Friday's $175,000 American Turf S. (G2) figures plenty tough for the Californian whose experience has thus far been limited to running on synthetic and grass. Eleven three-year-olds were entered in the 1 1/16-mile grass affair, which appears on paper to be one of the best betting races on the Kentucky Oaks Day program. The defection of MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein) into Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1) will leave 10 to line up in the race. Setsuko simply did not accumulate enough graded earnings to make it into the Run for the Roses despite second-place efforts in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Sham S. (G3). Though he was a narrowly beaten second in his only prior grass appearance, the jury is still out on whether turf is Setsuko's footing of preference. LOST APTITUDE (Aptitude) won twice over the Matt Winn course last November prior to a head defeat in the Tropical Park Derby (G3) on New Year's Day, and is wisely being returned to the grass after trailing in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) on dirt last time. Other entrants that were based in Florida over the winter, including DOUBLES PARTNER (Rock Hard Ten), SAINT ELIGIUS (Saint Liam) and GLEAM OF HOPE (City Zip), all have form to recommend.

STRIKE THE TIGER (Tiger Ridge) and GUYS REWARD (Grand Reward) both missed in a three-way photo in the April 2 Transylvania S. (G3), but are likely some of the longer shots here. ALFARABI (Yes It's True), who dealt Setsuko his setback on the grass, ran below par when fifth in the Transylvania. He placed in both the Pasadena and Eddie Logan S. over the winter. An interesting Midwestern interest is WORKIN FOR HOPS (City Zip), who took both Fair Grounds grass attempts by wide margins including the Grindstone S. Completing the field is the stakes-placed ASPHALT (War Chant).

CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE (War Chant) will seek a repeat victory in the $100,000 Churchill Downs Turf Sprint (G3) over five furlongs, but will have to fend off the talented SILVER TIMBER (Prime Timber), who had his measure in the recent Shakertown S. (G3) at Keeneland. Five panels could prove a tad short for Silver Timber, who took the six-furlong Jaipur S. (G3) last season, while Chamberlain Bridge has yet to smell defeat in three starts over the Churchill lawn.

STARFISH BAY (Elusive Quality), the only filly in the field of 11, won the Ladies Turf Sprint S. at Gulfstream in smashing fashion on February 21, getting five furlongs in an insanely-fast :53 3/5. The Grade 2-placed FORMIDABLE (Sky Mesa), who won on turf at first asking at Gulfstream earlier this month, represents a rare Kentucky starter for Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens.

The first graded stakes of the year for two-year-olds, the $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile S. (G3), will be contested at five furlongs. The race was dominated last year by a pair of Wesley Ward-trained fillies, and lightning might strike twice as the conditioner is ready to send out the pair of FINAL MESA (Sky Mesa) and NINA FEVER (Borrego), who won at first asking at Keeneland by 7 1/2 lengths and eight lengths, respectively.

Other debut winners in the mix are WETZEL (Successful Appeal) and LOU BRISSIE (Limehouse), both Keeneland graduates, and TWELVE PACE SHELLY (Deputy Storm), who blasted males by nearly 11 lengths in her debut at Laurel on April 8. WEEKEND WILDCAT (Lion Heart), a nose second to Wetzel in his debut, is another potential player.

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