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Court Vision tops strong Woodford Reserve cast Occupying its traditional slot as the race before the Kentucky Derby (G1), the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) just so happens to number a pair of veterans from the past two Runs for the Roses among its nine entrants that will go 1 1/8 miles over the Matt Winn turf course. COURT VISION (Gulch), 13th in the 2008 Derby, long ago moved on to a highly successful career on grass and is the likely favorite on Saturday, while GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa), 10th in the Derby last season, hopes a change in surface can cure a recent case of seconditis. Court Vision has won just two of his last 10 starts and was third in this event a year ago, but the victories have all come since transferring to the barn of Rick Dutrow last fall. A winner at first asking for the conditioner in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), the five-year-old was a nice fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) then was elevated from second to the winner's circle in the February 6 Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1). Court Vision was most recently second in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland. General Quarters played the role of bridesmaid all winter at Fair Grounds. Three of those four starts came in stakes, including the New Orleans H. (G2) and Mineshaft H. (G3). A nondescript eighth in a first-level allowance the last time he tried the grass in November 2008, General Quarters might find conditions inhospitable against a strong group of surface specialists. Among these is the reformed claimer BLUES STREET (Street Cry [Ire]), who made quick work of the Fair Grounds turf division when shipping in from Florida to capture both the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) and Fair Grounds H. (G3) in impressive fashion. The Todd Pletcher-trainee enters on a four-race win streak, and has surprisingly found his best stride at the age of six. Not to be overlooked is LOUP BRETON (Ire) (Anabaa), who can be forgiven for an unsuccessful detour to Pro-Ride for the Santa Anita H. (G1). Bet down to 4-1 in that 1 1/4-mile fixture, the French import raced near the back throughout. Previously, he had captured the San Marcos S. (G2) and was a close second in the San Gabriel H. (G2), and narrowly missed in Group 1 company at Longchamp last spring. Others of note are BATTLE OF HASTINGS (Royal Applause [GB]), who hasn't quite regained his best sophomore form despite placing in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) and Arcadia H. (G2) this season; the Grade 3 winner AL KHALI (Medaglia d'Oro) who makes his first start since running fourth in the Hollywood Derby (G1) in November; and the veteran YATE'S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe), a five-time winner over the local turf. TIZAQUEENA (Tiznow) surprised at nearly 9-1 when taking the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) a year ago, but will not be anywhere near that price when she defends her title in Saturday's $200,000 renewal. The Mike Stidham pupil has spent the last 12 months adding to her legacy, and though she endured a spell five straight losses following her Derby Day win, she picked up checks in races like the First Lady S. (G1) and enters off back-to-back stakes wins at Fair Grounds. Edging Tizaqueena in the First Lady was DIAMONDRELLA (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]), who also landed the Just a Game S. (G1) last season. Surface switches and barn changes have wreaked havoc on the six-year-old's scoresheet of late, but she'll back to what she does best on Saturday when running a flat mile on the weeds. Jim Corrigan has taken over training responsibilities for the bay. A serious threat to go favored is FANTASIA (GB) (Sadler's Wells), who missed by a neck in her U.S. debut to MISS KELLER (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]) at Keeneland on April 7. A multiple Group 3 winner in England, Fantasia finished third as the favorite in the French One Thousand Guineas (Fr-G1) and figures much stronger in her second race off the bench. Miss Keller, another former European-based filly, fared poorly in her only previous start on the Churchill turf, a likely aberration given the quality of her other races in this country. Other logical contenders are HOT CHA CHA (Cactus Ridge), the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) heroine who was a troubled third in the Jenny Wiley S. (G2) in her seasonal bow, and recent Hillsborough S. (G3) winner PHOLA (Johannesburg).
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