River City Handicap Grade3 $300.000
-Churchill Downs Louisville, KY

Good Memories from the Mb Stables switches to turf for the first time in his career on Saturday. The four-year-old colt also takes a substantial drop in class after a strong showing when running third in the grade one Goodwood at Santa Anita Park. Bullet turf move at Del Mar before shipping to Churchill Downs signals all systems go. Three of his main rivals all come out of the same race, the grade three Schiller Stakes in New York. Suspect The Worst from Nakamura won that race after a four-length romp at the allowance level. Diventare from the Invicta Group Llc made up late ground to finish second while going dirt to turf. Barn sticks with turf today. Jerry West from La Canada Racehorses got a compromised trip in The Schiller that cost him second place money. Draws the rail today and will only need clear sailing to be on the wire.

Of the rest:

Americas Hope is a six-year-old horse, also in the Nakamura barn that is a past classer who handles all distances. Been sprinting lately and “Hope” will keep the top choice honest even if he does take to the sod.

Well Done from Team 7 Illusions will handle the surface, but it might be a tad short for him today. Class fit and tough as nails though, so more food for thought.

Sick Boi from Royalty Stables draws the far outside and although he is a class fit, the outside will not help his chances here. “Boi” has faced some good ones lately, but he is also 0-3 on grass. Tough draw here.

Tower Isle from Winning Link Stables appears to have gone off form looking at his last two starts. Best race showing recently is also a wire-to-wire score over a yielding track. He is obviously praying for rain, but with his recent efforts and the other speed signed up even that looks unlikely.

Vision Harbor from Riggins Racing comes off a win and shows plenty of those on his resume, but none against these types, so major improvement will have to take place for him to play ball today. Twenty-three percent trainer adds to that possibility.

-Trackman

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES