Dynamite Jenny Wiley field highlights Blue Grass undercard
One of three graded stakes on the Blue Grass undercard, Saturday's Grade 1,
Jenny Wiley Stakes will feature an excellent field of six turf distaffers at
Keeneland. Grade 1 winner Zagora, an easy winner of the Grade 3 Hillsborough and
Grade 3 Endeavour this year for trainer Chad Brown, is the top draw.
Keeneland will also offer the Grade 2, $175,000
Commonwealth Stakes at seven furlongs on Polytrack and the Grade 3, $100,000
Stakes over 5 1/2 grassy furlongs.
Zagora will break from post 5 with regular rider Javier Castellano. A sharp
scorer in the Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga last summer, the five-year-old
mare made only one more appearance -- recording an unplaced effort as the
favorite in the Grade 2 Canadian at Woodbine -- before heading to the sidelines,
but she has returned better than ever in 2012, romping by 2 1/4 lengths in the
Endeavour prior to a comfortable 1 3/4-length decision in the Hillsborough. The
chestnut is a strong candidate to improve upon her third in last year's 1
1/16-mile Jenny Wiley.
Aruna captured the Grade 1 Spinster on Polytrack last October, but the
five-year-old mare is just as dangerous on turf and will make her first start
since a close fifth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Ramon Dominguez will
guide the Graham Motion trainee. Daisy Devine has reeled off three consecutive
turf stakes wins, including a half-length score in the Grade 3 Valley View
Stakes at Keeneland last October, and James Graham will retain the mount for
conditioner Andrew McKeever.
Tapitsfly and Bay to Bay, the top two respective finishers in the Grade 2
Honey Fox at Gulfstream Park March 18, will both look to make an impact while
stepping up in class. Heavenly Landing, who recorded an upset in the Grade 3
Marshua's River two back, faces a difficult task against this company.
Right One, who will make his first start since a fast-finishing third in a
listed stakes at Aqueduct last November, is the top draw in the seven-horse
Commonwealth field. The Grade 3 victor has never started on a synthetic track in
the United States but owns a 3-1-1-0 record overseas on all-weather surfaces.
The French import will be reunited with jockey Garrett Gomez, who guided the
six-year-old gelding to a commendable neck third in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile
three back.
Grade 3 hero Comedero, a 10-time stakes winner for trainer Michael Stidham,
looks like the one to catch from the rail post. Lonesome Street and Bergerac are
also logical contenders for at least a top-three placing.
Ten horses will line up for the Shakertown, including the venerable
Chamberlain Bridge, a 12-time stakes winner who counts the 2010 Breeders' Cup
Turf Sprint among his biggest prizes. An earner of more than $1.7 million, the
eight-year-old gelding is still going strong for trainer Bret Calhoun, recording
a win in the Bonapaw Stakes prior to a second in the Colonel Power Stakes last
out, and he is a past stakes winner over the Keeneland turf. Regular pilot Jamie
Theriot has the assignment.
Havelock is two for two over the course, including a win in the Grade 3
Woodford last October, and received a nice tightener when finishing third in a
handicap at Tampa Bay Downs last out. Perfect Officer recorded a third in the
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint following his runner-up effort in the Woodford and
will make his first start for Tony Dutrow on Saturday. Great Attack, who just
missed when third in the Woodford, can't be dismissed from win contention off a
victory in the February 18 Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa.
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