McCraken starts second half

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Injury was added to insult when McCraken ran in the Kentucky Derby. The colt sustained a puncture wound to his left hind ankle that delayed his return to training atop the disappointment of defeat.

Now comes a turning of the page for McCraken, whose overall record and recent morning regrouping will make him a heavy favorite Saturday night in the Grade 3, $100,000 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs. The colt will face five other 3-yearolds in the 1 1/16-mile Winn, the first step in what trainer Ian Wilkes hopes is a return to prominence among his class.

“We’ve always believed he was a good horse,” said Wilkes, who trains the bay homebred colt for the Whitham family of southwestern Kansas. “The Derby was rough on him, just as it is on a lot of horses. We’re fortunate it wasn’t any worse. Now we’ll look forward to having a good second half of the year.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. will be back aboard when McCraken breaks from post 2 in the 20th running of the Winn, the first of five straight graded stakes on the card. It’s the fifth of 11 races, with post time set for 7:57 p.m. Eastern.

A winner in his first three starts, all at Churchill, McCraken went to Florida in December as one of the early Derby favorites. He furthered that status by staying undefeated in the Feb. 11 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs but missed the March 11 Tampa Bay Derby because of a minor ailment.

McCraken then ran third in the April 8 Blue Grass Stakes and eighth in the May 6 Derby, and now here he is, ready to go again following four post-Derby breezes over his home course. Wilkes said the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga is a logical next target, “but let’s get past this first.”

As for his opposition, all five are eligible for a first- or secondlevel allowance. Excitations and Society Beau, both winners two starts back at Keeneland, appear most capable. The balance of the lineup is Colo-nelsdarktemper, Mo’s Mojo, and Aquamarine.

The Winn, which displaced the Northern Dancer on the spring stakes schedule in 2011, is named for the legendary Churchill president who will be inducted posthumously this summer into the Racing Hall of Fame. The 2016 edition was won by Gun Runner, who has emerged as a standout in the handicap ranks and will be a stout favorite later Saturday in the Stephen Foster Handicap.

KEY CONTENDERS

McCraken, by Ghostzapper Last 3 Beyers: 84-88-95

◗ There’s sufficient speed here to assure an honest pace, a scenario that likely will enable him to settle well off the pace before kicking home.

Excitations, by Into Mischief Last 3 Beyers: 70-89-80

◗ Owned by the 200-member Fair Grounds Racing Club, this Al Stall Jr.-trained colt also will be looking to rebound off a Derby Day loss, having run 11th in the Pat Day Mile.

Society Beau, by Curlin Last 3 Beyers: 78-77-76

◗ He has been very steady for trainer Neil Howard, finishing third or better in nine of 11 career starts. He seems like a must-use under McCraken in vertical plays.