Paddy O'Prado needs luck in tough Colonial Turf Cup

Saturday's $500,000

Colonial Turf Cup (G2) at Colonial Downs attracted only seven three-year-old

colts and geldings, but among them are two who contested the Kentucky Derby (G1)

as well as a pair who each enter the 1 3/16-mile contest undefeated in three

starts on grass. The more notable among the former is the

Dale Romans-trained PADDY O'PRADO (El Prado [Ire]), the third-place finisher in

the Run for the Roses who returns to grass following a sixth-place effort in the

May 15 Preakness S. (G1). He will carry co-highweight of 121 pounds with Kent

Desormeaux up.

Still a maiden when capturing the Palm Beach S. (G3) over the Gulfstream turf

on March 6, Paddy O'Prado quickly developed into a Kentucky Derby candidate when

a clear second in the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland in his next start. Three

weeks later at Churchill Downs, the gray rallied from 11th early to just miss

runner-up honors to Ice Box (Pulpit) by a neck. Perhaps aided by the sloppy

conditions in the Derby, Paddy O'Prado did not run up to that level in the

Preakness at Pimlico, finishing sixth, more than 10 lengths behind Lookin at

Lucky (Smart Strike), on a fast track.

The other Derby entrant, 14th-place finisher DEAN'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy),

punched his ticket to Louisville following a 2 1/2-length decision in the Lane's

End S. (G2) over Polytrack. A son of 2004 Virginia Derby (G3) winner and grass

champ Kitten's Joy, Dean's Kitten's grass record is generally mixed. Among his

better efforts on the surface were an overnight stakes victory at Belmont Park

in October, a close sixth in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) at Santa Anita

and a second in the Palm Beach.

Those looking to remain undefeated on turf are DOUBLES PARTNER (Rock Hard

Ten), a solid 1 3/4-length winner of the American Turf S. (G2) at Churchill last

time for Todd Pletcher, and the unheralded gelding TWO NOTCH ROAD (Partner's

Hero), who has lit up the Monmouth Park tote board three times in his brief

career at odds of 107-1, 8-1 and 9-1. The triple-digit payoff was achieved in

the Continental Mile, while the last two upsets occurred in allowance races open

to older runners.

WORKIN FOR HOPS (City Zip), whose fifth in the American Turf is book-ended by

victories in the Grindstone S. and Arlington Classic, should be among the early

leaders, while the lightly-raced KINDERGARDEN KID (Dynaformer) is a threat from

midpack for the same connections successful in this race four years ago with

Showing Up. The outsider in the group is VAMOS A VER (Smart Strike), a stakes

newbie who passed his first two allowance conditions at Tampa Bay Downs and

Colonial, respectively, in his past two outings.

The $150,000

All

Along S. (G3), a former possession of the Maryland Jockey Club, is the

undercard feature for fillies and mares over nine grassy furlongs. SHARED

ACCOUNT (Pleasantly Perfect), who took the Lake Placid S. (G2) last summer prior

to two Grade 1 placings, should improve off a close fourth in the Gallorette H.

(G3) at Pimlico in her seasonal bow. DYNASLEW (Dynaformer), meanwhile, will try

to remain undefeated since joining the Seth Benzel shedrow. The four-year-old

led gate-to-wire in the May 1 Beaugay S. (G3) at Belmont last out.

Invading from the Midwest is TIZAQUEENA (Tiznow), who has the unique

distinction of winning stakes on dirt, turf and synthetic already this season.

The Grade 2 turf veteran was recently successful over 10 rivals in the Arlington

Matron H. (G3) on Polytrack. BLIND DATE (Not for Love) is seeking only her

second win since her Virginia Oaks (G3) triumph over this course last July,

while CASABLANCA SMILE (Chi) (Ocean Terrace) adds a bit of intrigue being a

multiple Group 1 winner in her native Chile, including a six-length domination

over males in that country's Derby equivalent on January 31.