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Acoma seeking a revival in Cardinal

Acoma began her undefeated Churchill record with a victory in the Dogwood (Courtesy of Churchill Downs) If anything will drag ACOMA (Empire Maker) out of her recent doldrums, a return to the Churchill Downs' Matt Winn turf course might do it. The David Carroll filly, who trailed in both the First Lady S. (G1) and Delaware H. (G2) in her last two, returns to her favorite sod Saturday for the $100,000 Cardinal H. (G3) over nine furlongs where she will meet eight other fillies and mares. Acoma will seek to maintain her perfect mark over Churchill's infield course, having previously taken the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) and Mint Julep H. (G3) at the last two meets in Louisville, Kentucky. The four-year-old has raced sporadically this season, kicking things off with an impressive five-length tally in the Azeri S. (G3) at Oaklawn, but faltered badly as the odds-on choice in the Apple Blossom H. (G1) next out. After a narrow score versus Pure Clan (Pure Prize) in the Mint Julep, Acoma was nowhere to be found at the end of her last two. TIZFIZ (Tiznow), a three-time stakes winner this year including the San Gorgonio H. (G2), returns to her surface of preference following sixth-place efforts in the Spinster S. (G1) and Fayette S. (G2), both on Polytrack. She preceded her Keeneland attempts with listed stakes scores at Mountaineer Park and Remington Park, the latter against the boys.

LONG APPROACH (Broad Brush), who missed by a head to Indescribable in the 2008 Cardinal, makes her first start in seven months in Saturday's renewal for trainer Jonathan Sheppard. The bay was winless in five starts earlier in the year and hit the sidelines following a second to Criticism (GB) in the La Prevoyante H. (G2) at Calder. Another local stakes veteran, MY BABY BABY (Bernstein), was second to Acoma in the Mrs. Revere and enters off an allowance score over the Keeneland Polytrack.

SOCIAL QUEEN (Dynaformer) has generally struggled since taking the May 16 Gallorette H. (G3) at 9-1, though her third in the Noble Damsel H. (G3) in September was of higher quality than her summertime performances. LEMON CHIFFON (Lemon Drop Kid) was third in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) in her only other appearance under the Twin Spires, while YOU GO WEST GIRL (Mr. Greeley) is living up to her moniker after back-to-back tallies in New York-bred stakes at Belmont.

The early pace of the Cardinal should be provided by ZASKAR (GB) (Anabaa), who narrowly missed twice in overnight stakes company in recent months, and LEAMINGTON (Pleasant Tap), who took the Voodoo Dancer S. at Saratoga two back prior to a wilting fifth over boggy ground in the Flower Bowl Invitational (G1).

Earlier in the card, Churchill Downs S. (G2) winner ACCREDIT (E Dubai) and Jersey Shore S. (G3) winner CUSTOM FOR CARLOS (More Than Ready) will join seven others in the $60,000 Bet on Sunshine H., a six-furlong dash on the main track.

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