VETERANS’ DAY

CHOCOLATE RIDE TOPS SEASONED CAST FOR OLD FRIENDS,

Odds are, the results of the Old Friends Stakes on Thursday at Kentucky Downs will be less surprising than when the $150,000 race was run the first two times.

The 2015 inaugural was won by a 50-1 shot named Kalamos, and the 2016 running was won by Flatlined at 12-1. One never knows where the next stunner is coming from, but most bettors will be looking for an end to the madness when the Old Friends is run for the third time.

Three accomplished veterans – Chocolate Ride, Oscar Nominated, and Sir Dudley Digges – form a core of favorites in the ninth of 10 races at this turf-only track in south central Kentucky, where Old Friends launched a satellite facility two years ago. Purse money aside, the winner also will earn a spot at Old Friends when his racing days are finished.

Chocolate Ride, with Florent Geroux to ride, figures prominently from the start of the onemile and 70-yard race, which is restricted to horses who have not won a stakes in 2017.

“I think it’s a matter of how he’ll take to the course,” trainer Brad Cox said Monday before leaving Saratoga to return to his Louisville, Ky., home. “It’s something of an unknown, but we feel like he’s training really well and would be tough with his best race.”

Oscar Nominated could actually wind up the lukewarm choice, in no small part because the ever-popular Jose Ortiz takes the call, perhaps offsetting the fact the 4-year-old ridgling’s most recent victory came nearly a year ago in the Dueling Grounds Derby over the irregular Kentucky Downs course. Oscar Nominated is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Mike Maker, the same connections for Sir Dudley Digges, the 2016 Queen’s Plate winner who will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

One of the other would-be Old Friends favorites is Undrafted, although trainer Wesley Ward

said Monday he is leaning toward scratching the earner of more than $1.36 million in favor of the shorter Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint on Saturday.

Fringe players in the Old Friends include the steady One Mean Man, an earner of more than $521,000; Gio’s Calling, who gets a call from Julien Leparoux; and Thatcher Street, a graded winner of more than $405,000. In all, 14 are entered, with the number of starters limited to 12.

Old Friends, part of the 64-member Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, was founded near Georgetown, Ky., in 2003 by Michael Blowen. Among the notable Thoroughbreds to live out their retirement at the farm are Silver Charm, War Emblem, Touch Gold, Alphabet Soup, and Game On Dude.

First post Thursday is 1:25 p.m. Central. The forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 71.

KEY CONTENDERS

Chocolate Ride, by Candy Ride Last 3 Beyers: 85-98-96

◗ This 7-year-old gelding is a multiple graded winner with a nice turn of foot in a race that lacks abundant speed.

Oscar Nominated, by Kitten’s Joy Last 3 Beyers: 97-97-98

◗ Class-dropper exits three straight Grade 1 races, the latest being an eighth in the Arlington Million.

Sir Dudley Digges, by Gio Ponti Last 3 Beyers: 85-95-91

◗ Back-to-back allowance wins at Churchill Downs in the spring speak to his ability over grass.

One Mean Man, by Mizzen Mast Last 3 Beyers: 89-89-89

◗ Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. figures to save ground much of the way on this reliable performer.