Trainer Aer Stables and jockey Bridgmohan as hoping that the success they felt last weekend taking home the Gr. I PRK, will continue here in the Gr. III Colors as they put Drunken Commander to the test going six furlongs.
- Colors ( Gr. III ) Purse $125.000
- Churchill Downs- For Fillies and Mares Four Years old and Up
- Six furlongs in distance, Main Track
- Saturday May 23rd, 2020
Seven trainers with seven entries will break from the gate here at the Twin Spires in Race #6, all looking to improve on their sprint records. While this time of the season we as handicappers are more focused on the long route affairs with the running of the Triple Crown, sometimes some talented runners going shorter can be overlooked.
Starting from the rail post position we have La Marseillaise ( Witeout Stables) who definitely improved last month over at SA when the blinkers were once again removed. Showed an impressive late run to the wire, and if she can be just a little tighter at the midway point, the rail may open up for her to jump ahead of the pack. While her trainer has been here since 2005, it has been since 2017 when Red Matic captured the Gr. I Jerkens Memorial for his last Graded title. This would be a much pleasing win.
From the two hole will break Flying Squirrel ( Our Athletes), a twelve time winner in her career, and has parked herself in the protected allowance company ranks since coming over from Angelos Stables. She has done well there with a win and two show finishes while going shorter distances then today. Should be out early and possibly on top, and if she has the strength, will try to hold off all comers to the wire.
Number three will be the earlier mentioned Drunken Commander. Out of the Commanding bloodline, was claimed out her maiden winner for a sawbuck, and this will be her third start for her new owners. Stepped to the top in her most recent affair, the Gr. I Humana Distaff, and now takes a drop to this level hoping the experience she gained from running against tougher, will pay dividends here.
Out of gate four will be Bluetooth Baby ( Arindel ), and this four year old bay filly has gained three victories in her last six starts, while cashing cheques in her other three as well. Her SRF numbers have been on the rise, but she has yet to venture into the Stakes arena in her career. I personally would take the wait and see approach with her first effort, but this trainer has been known to surprise, and her works are keen to have a second glance.
Credit Union ( TwinTowersRacing ) will wear the green number five silks. This five year old mare spent half her career on the grass and managed to only go to the winners enclosure once. Since coming back to the dirt two starts ago, she has managed a runner-up effort and a win in her most recent Alw30.8 race at SUN. Has been using the Belmont surface in prep for this event and the dirt has been kind to her. There are a few who are slightly quicker, and that may have her finishing on the edge today.
Gr.III Las Flores Stakes winner Sweet Catomine ( John Henry ) is looking to double up at that level with a victory in this event. She also captured the GR. III Sugar Swirl three starts ago, so this distance seems to be much to her liking. In fifteen career starts, she doesn’t seem to beat around the bush as she has seven wins, with no place or show finishes to her credit. Definitely place a buck or two on her in today’s event, she may be back once again.
The final runner of this affair will be Golden Hour ( D J C Racing Stables). This trainer has been back on his game of late with a record of ( 4-1-7-3 ) in his last twenty starts, as of the 20th of May. While this four year old filly has just one win in nine affairs going longer, her four wins out of seven in sprint distances is worth noting. Drop back in distance should play well for her today if she stalks or goes to the front early. Factor.
Duffer
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
