Singing Bullet has big future

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Singing Bullet is linked to some big names in racing. Now he’s looking to make one for himself.

Bred and owned by Frank Stronach, Singing Bullet was produced by Life At Ten, the millionaire mare who was eased across the line as the 7-2 second betting choice in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, setting off a string of legal actions and regulatory changes.

Last summer, Singing Bullet was being favorably compared by trainer Dale Romans to stablemate Not This Time, who emerged as one of the top 2-year-olds of 2016 before his premature retirement. And during his three starts at 2, Singing Bullet competed against the likes of Classic Empire, Lookin At Lee, and McCraken, all among the top 3-year-olds in North America.

“He had a lot of promise for us,” said Romans. “Then he came up with a little problem that forced us to stop on him a while.”

On Friday at Churchill Downs, Singing Bullet makes his eagerly awaited return to racing as the likely favorite in the lone allowance on a nine-race card. Not only does his reputation precede him, but his recent workout slate at Churchill – following some time at Adena Springs in Ocala, Fla. – suggests the Hard Spun colt will be tough to deny in his first start in seven months.

“We sent him to Frank’s farm, and he came back to me in great shape,” said Romans. “The way he’s trained tells me he might not get beat Friday.”

Singing Bullet, with Channing Hill to ride from post 4, has had six workouts since May 9, including five-furlong bullets on each of the last two Saturdays.

A winner of his career debut last September at Ellis Park, the colt then was soundly defeated by Classic Empire in the Breeders’ Futurity and then by McCraken in the Street Sense before going to the sidelines. He’ll be treated with the diuretic Lasix for the first time when he faces eight other 3-year-olds in the eighth of nine races, a $55,300, first-level allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Among the primary opposition are a pair of uncoupled duos from major stables: Hollow Point (post 1, Brian Hernandez Jr.) and Casses Story (post 6, Julien Leparoux) for Mark Casse and Heartwood (post 2, Robby Albarado) and Totality (post 3, Corey Lanerie) for Steve Asmussen.

Two starter allowances (races 2 and 5) and a maiden special weight sprint for 2-year-olds (race 4) also are on tap Friday, when first post is 12:45 p.m. Eastern. The feature goes at 4:19 and the last race at 4:51.