Nine to mix it up in Mint Julep

A field of nine distaffers have been entered in Saturday's $100,000

Mint

Julep H. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday, and ACOMA (Empire Maker) has

been assigned to carry the top weight of 122 pounds in the 1 1/16-mile turf

test. The David Carroll trainee will have her work cut out for her as she'll be

going for a title defense here following a vacation of more than six months.

Acoma made her 2009 debut in similar fashion, coming back from a four-month

break to dominate last year's Azeri S. (G3) by five lengths on Oaklawn Park's

main track, and followed up by filling the show spot in the Apple Blossom (G1). The bay returned to the turf to take the Mint Julep by a neck on the wire,

but threw in a couple of uncharacteristic off-the-board runs in her next two

starts. She got back on the winning track just in time to close out her

four-year-old campaign with a head score in the November 21 Cardinal H. (G3)

under the Twin Spires. Corey Lanerie will take up most of Acoma's impost as she

returns to her favored Churchill Downs, where she is three-for-three on the

green and at the distance.

HOT CHA CHA (Cactus Ridge) will be doing her best to spoil Acoma's perfect

mark as she goes for a first victory at Churchill and at 8 1/2 furlongs.

Conditioned by Phil Sims, the dark bay four-year-old captured last year's

Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), Pucker Up S. (G3) and Bourbonette Oaks

(G3) but didn't earn near the numbers she garnered for placing in the Jenny

Wiley S. (G2) and Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) in her two starts so far this

season. Hot Cha Cha's 120-pound impost in the Mint Julep is less than what she

carried to victory last year.