Competitive trio of turf stakes on Oaks undercard

With his chances of making the field for Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1)

increasingly remote due to insufficient graded earnings, it is more likely

stakes winner HALO NAJIB (Halo's Image) will be making his turf debut in

Friday's $150,000 Crown Royal American Turf S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The 1

1/16-mile race for three-year-olds attracted a field of 11 colts and geldings.

Halo Najib, whose chances of making the Derby field decreased when only

seventh last out in the Blue Grass S. (G1), descends from turf standouts Halo

and Sword Dance (Ire) and thus has potential to transfer his decent main track

form to the grass. The Dale Romans trainee has placed twice in Grade 2 company,

most recently finishing second in the March 22 Lane's End S. over the Turfway

Polytrack. Kent Desormeaux will ride.

Among those with established turf form, CANNONBALL (Catienus) and PRUSSIAN

(Danzig) both figure to attract plenty of support. Cannonball was victorious in

the King Cugat S. at Belmont last fall, and then returned five days later to run

a solid third in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. This year,

Cannonball has been third in the Tropical Park Derby (G3) and Hallandale Beach

S., and was most recently sixth in the Lane's End in a rare non-turf appearance.

Prussian captured the Summer S. (Can-G3) at Woodbine last fall but faded to 10th

after setting the pace in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Prussian made his

seasonal debut in the April 4 Transylvania S. (G3) at Keeneland, a race that was

transferred from the turf to the Polytrack, and finished fourth after leading

early.

NISTLE'S CRUNCH (Van Nistelrooy), third in the grassy Eddie Logan S. at Santa

Anita in December, returned to the turf in an April 16 Keeneland allowance and

was a comfortable 1 1/2-length winner while under a hand ride through the

stretch. Nistle's Crunch has been unplaced only once in eight starts when

seventh in the Florida Derby (G1) behind likely Kentucky Derby favorite Big

Brown (Boundary).

Another who fell off the Kentucky Derby trail, BLACKBERRY ROAD (Gone West),

will also be making his turf debut in the American Turf. Runner-up in the

Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) over the Churchill dirt last fall, Blackberry

Road's best finish in four starts this year was his second to Z Fortune (Siphon

[Brz]) in the Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds.

Others of note in the field are Transylvania S. winner BOSS LAFITTE (Dynaformer)

and the turf allowance winners FREE FIGHTER (Out of Place) and PROCESSOR'S TURF

(Sky Mesa).

From the rail out, the field consists of Free Fighter, Miguel Mena; Nistle's

Crunch, Calvin Borel; Cannonball, Alex Solis; Processor's Turf, Mike Smith;

TIZDEJAVU (Tiznow), Garrett Gomez; Halo Najib; Blackberry Road, Julien Leparoux;

Prussian, John Velazquez; SAILOR'S CAP (Distant View), Edgar Prado; Boss

Lafitte, Robby Albarado; and CAPE OF STORMS (Cape Town), John McKee.

All runners will carry 117 pounds, except Cannonball (121) and Prussian

(123).

Favoritism in the $150,000

Edgewood

S. for three-year-old fillies will likely fall to GRACE AND POWER (More Than

Ready) despite the fact the Steve Klesaris trainee has not raced since December.

Grace and Power had a solid freshman campaign, however, winning the Holly S.

over the Meadowlands turf in only her second start, and was later third in the

Epitome S. and Selima S. on turf before completing her season with a second to

Country Star (Empire Maker) in the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) on Cushion Track.

Among the others in the cast of nine for the 1 1/16 mile turf event are Happy

Ticket S. heroine ZEE ZEE (Exchange Rate) and CLEARLY FOXY (Volponi), who has

faltered in two non-turf appearances since taking the Natalma S. (Can-G3) at

Woodbine last September.

The stakes action on Kentucky Oaks (G1) day kicks off with the $100,000

Aegon Turf Sprint S. (G3) for older horses at five furlongs. MR. NIGHTLINGER

(Indian Charlie), the gate-to-wire winner of the Shakertown S. (G3) at Keeneland

at nearly 22-1 last out, will attempt to outrun seven rivals, with only INDIAN

ASHTON (Tribal Rule) appearing to have much chance of keeping Mr. Nightlinger

honest in the early stages. SALUTE THE COUNT (Count the Time), runner-up in the

Jaipur S. (G3) last year, also brings decent current form to the race.