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Elite Squadron eyes Aristides The speedy ELITE SQUADRON (Officer) looms as a top threat in Saturday's $125,000 Aristides S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The four-year-old has thrived recently for conditioner James Baker and will carry top weight of 124 pounds in the six-furlong dash. Elite Squadron, who has won four of six starts under the Twin Spires, set fast fractions before drawing off to an impressive 4 1/2-length victory in the Churchill Downs S. (G2) on Kentucky Derby Day. In his previous start, he finished a close second in the Commonwealth S. (G2) at Keeneland. Javier Castellano has the call. The small, but competitive field of six, also includes Mr. Prospector H. (G3) winner NOONMARK (Unbridled's Song). The Steve Asmussen trainee was steadied on the turn before chasing home Elite Squadron in the Churchill Downs. Shaun Bridgmohan returns aboard Noonmark, who will shoulder 122 pounds. Other contenders include Prairie Meadows Sprint S. winner INDIAN CHANT (Suggest), who defeated KELLY'S LANDING (Patton) in a six-furlong event over a sloppy local track on May 11. The seven-year-old Kelly's Landing, winner of the 2007 Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), figures to improve in his second start of the season. The field, from the rail out, with jockeys and weights, is ESPERAMOS (Stormy Atlantic), Elvis Trujillo, 118; Elite Squadron; CARNACKS CHOICE (Carson City), Robby Albarado, 118; Indian Chant, Jamie Theriot, 118; Kelly's Landing, Julien Leparoux, 118; and Noonmark. Four of the top five finishers in the La Troienne S. (G3) on Derby Day, all return in the $100,000 Dogwood S. (G3) for three-year-old fillies. KEEP THE PEACE (Touch Gold), TIZ TO DREAM (Tiznow), ALINA (Came Home) and SECRET GYPSY (Sea of Secrets), who finished second through fifth, respectively, in the 7 1/2-furlong La Troienne, will go a sixteenth of a mile farther in the Dogwood. The quartet will be challenged by newcomers PIOUS ASHLEY (Include), ACOMA (Empire Maker) and TEMPER TEMPER (Empire Maker). The $100,000 Opening Verse H. attracted a full field of 12, including Canadian International S. (Can-G1) winner CLOUDY'S KNIGHT (Lord Avie), last year's champion turf horse in Canada, who will make his 2008 debut in the 1 1/16-mile turf race.
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