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Sky Flight back in Firecracker

A winner in three of his last four starts, Sky Flight will attempt to make a mark in the U.S. turf division  (Kenny Martin/Adam Coglianese Photography) Unraced since a neck third in the January 24 Tampa Bay (G3), Sky Flight (Sky Mesa) will take some beating in Saturday's $200,000 Firecracker (G2) at Churchill Downs. The one-mile turf affair is one of four stakes races on the closing-night program. Sky Flight broke his maiden last October and followed with a four-length romp over entry-level allowance rivals on Churchill Downs' turf a month later. The four-year-old colt made his stakes debut a winning one, easily capturing December's Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park, before just missing in the aforementioned Tampa Bay as the 6-5 favorite. Julien Leparoux will retain the mount on the Mark Casse trainee. Three runners with Triple Crown experience are part of the nine-horse field. Medal Count (Dynaformer), the 2014 Belmont Stakes (G1) third-placer, makes his second start of the season for Al Stall Jr., who took over training duties this year for the Grade 3-winning colt. Medal Count never fired when last of five in an off-the-turf allowance on June 20 and connections expect him to show much more on the surface switch. The bay picks up the services of James Graham. Departing (War Front), unplaced in last year's Preakness (G1), opened 2014 with a respectable third in the grassy Opening Verse on May 30 and will make his second career turf start for Stall on Saturday night. Miguel Mena takes over the reins. Frac Daddy (Scat Daddy), unplaced in the 2013 editions of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont, finished second after setting the pace in the Opening Verse and must be considered dangerous for conditioner Kenny McPeek. Corey Lanerie rides the front-runner.

Other contestants include Hammers Terror (Artie Schiller) and Knights Nation (Indygo Shiner), who both raced for tag when recording last-out victories over allowance/optional claiming foes on the Matt Winn turf course; and Grade 2 victor Skyring (English Channel), who will be seeking a turnaround in form following a pair of unplaced efforts in the Dixie (G2) and Maker's 46 Mile (G1).

The $100,000 Bashford Manor (G3) and $100,000 Debutante for fillies represent the biggest races of the spring/summer meet for two-year-olds and both six-furlong events attracted eight-horse fields.

He's Comin in Hot (Early Flyer) will receive plenty of support in the Bashford Manor following an impressive 4 1/2-length tally over maiden special weight rivals at Churchill on June 12. Jamie Theriot will guide the Bret Calhoun-trained gelding. Show Bound (Warrior's Reward) is still a maiden, but the bay colt was bet down to 3-2 when making a turf debut at Belmont Park on June 7 and could be well-supported once again for Steve Asmussen on the surface switch. He adds leading rider Julien Leparoux. Shoot Craps (Trappe Shot), who defeated Show Bound last time, is also entered.

Asmussen is well-represented in the Debutante with Adhara (Cowboy Cal), a sharp 6 3/4-length debut winner under the Twin Spires on May 28; Areolite (Tapit), who rolled to a one-length score when making her lone appearance at Churchill on May 21; and Thievery (Valid Expectations), a 2 3/4-length odds-on winner at Indiana Grand on May 12. The Asmussen runners will be ridden by Lanerie, Leparoux and Robby Albarado, respectively.

The $70,000 Kelly's Landing concludes the stakes action, featuring a well-matched group of 11 horses at seven furlongs, and top contenders include Agent Di Nozzo (Ghostzapper), Ruble (Exchange Rate), Russellin (Old Fashioned) and Schivarelli (Montbrook).

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