Protagonists in Humana Distaff, Churchill Downs might like it wet

Protagonists in Humana Distaff, Churchill Downs might like

it wet

Champion INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) and recent Carter H. (G1) victor

WARRIOR'S REWARD (Medaglia d'Oro) both registered wins over off-tracks on

Kentucky Derby (G1) weekend a year ago, and neither would likely mind if the

showers and possible storms forecast for the Louisville, Kentucky, area hit the

Churchill Downs oval in time for their respective outings in Saturday's

$300,0000

Humana Distaff S. (G1) and $250,000

Churchill Downs S. (G2). Both races will be run over seven furlongs.

The Humana Distaff provided Informed Decision with her lone stakes success on

dirt last season in a female sprint championship campaign dominated by victories

on synthetic. Though possibly aided by the sloppy conditions that afternoon,

Informed Decision had to work hard for her money to make up six lengths in the

final furlong. Though she went on to score four more times during the year,

including the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), she enters Saturday's race

having run only a modest third while defending her title in Keeneland's Madison

S. (G1).

DR. ZIC (Milwaukee Brew), who registered the 15-1 upset in the Madison, is

well versed on dirt, as is Madison runner-up DUBAI MAJESTY (Essence of Dubai),

who landed the Winning Colors S. (G3) over the Churchill strip last year.

Perhaps the most dangerous threat to the champion is WARBLING (Unbridled's

Song), who registered an outstanding 109 BRIS Speed rating when wiring the

seven-furlong Inside Information S. (G2) last time. The lightly-raced

four-year-old had previously placed in both the Hurricane Bertie S. (G3) and

Sugar Swirl S. (G3).

Invading from California are MONA DE MOMMA (Speightstown) and FREE FLYING

SOUL (Quiet American), recent one-two finishers of the Las Flores H. (G3). Grade

3 vixens PRETTY PROLIFIC (Lion Heart) and RATED FEISTY (Exchange Rate) are also

among the field of 10.

While the Humana Distaff carries the higher grade, it's the Churchill Downs

that has attracted the superior field from top to bottom. In addition to

Warrior's Reward, the near-capacity field of 13 attracted the ever dangerous

MUNNINGS (Speightstown), third in the Carter, as well as MUSKET MAN (Yonaguska),

the dual classic-placed colt who was nipped at the wire by Warrior's Reward at

Aqueduct. Both could easily reverse the Carter form in this spot, though the

possibility of a wet track could hamper Munnings as it often has in the past.

KENSEI (Mr. Greeley) is another potential powerhouse in the sprint ranks this

season. Though successful in the Dwyer S. (G2) and Jim Dandy S. (G2) last

summer, the half-brother to Kentucky Derby favorite Lookin at Lucky (Smart

Strike) might focus more on one-turn races this year. He was a strong second in

the March 27 Duncan F. Kenner S. at Fair Grounds following a layoff of more than

five months.

Others to look out for are Toboggan S. (G3) winner WALL STREET WONDER (City

Place); the improving Hot Springs S. winner COUNTRY DAY (Speightstown); last

year's Derby Trial S. (G3) hero HULL (Holy Bull); Potrero Grande H. (G2) winner

VENTANA (Toccet); and the capable COOL COAL MAN (Mineshaft), who was

cross-entered in Friday's Alysheba S. (G3).

So deep is this renewal of the Churchill Downs that the race's 2009 winner,

the presently off-form ACCREDIT (E Dubai), was expected to be a major longshot

even before he was saddled with post 13.

The graded stakes action kicks off Saturday with the $100,000

Eight

Belles S. (G3) for three-year-old fillies over 7 1/2 furlongs. HOT DIXIE

CHICK (Dixie Union), who capped a strong juvenile campaign with a win in the

Spinaway S. (G1), is the likely odds-on choice. The Asmussen charge blasted an

overmatched field by 5 3/4 lengths in the Prima Donna S. at Oaklawn on March 20.

Should Hot Dixie Chick find the extended distance too taxing, Grade 3 winner

DECELERATOR (Dehere) or the stakes-placed VISAVIS (Indian Charlie) are logical

threats to come forward.