Mr. Misunderstood streaks into Jefferson

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mr. Misunderstood understands at least one thing: turf racing. The 3-year-old colt has won all five of his starts over grass, and trainer Brad Cox is hopeful the streak will go to six with the $100,000 Jefferson Cup on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Mr. Misunderstood is wheeling back just three weeks after winning the Sept. 9 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, but Cox believes the relatively short span between races to be of minor importance.

“He bounced out of the Super Derby in great shape,” Cox said. “He’ll run out of his own stall and he’s training great. We feel like things are lined up for him.”

Owned by Flurry Racing Stables, Mr. Misunderstood will break from post 3 with Florent Geroux aboard in the 1 1/8-mile Jefferson Cup, the first of three straight stakes on an 11-race card. The gelding’s three-length victory in the first Super Derby run over grass marked the fifth time in as many turf starts that he has won by two lengths or more.

Among the more capable opponents looking to snap his streak are Bronson, making a sixth straight stakes start; Giant Payday and My Bariley, the respective one-two finishers in the Mystic Lake Derby; and Mr Cub, a sharp last-out winner at Kentucky Downs.

The Jefferson Cup was first run at the 1977 spring meet as a dirt sprint for 2-year-olds before evolving into its current form. The 2016 renewal was transferred to the main track and was won by One Mean Man.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mr. Misunderstood, by Archarcharch Last 3 Beyers: 89-88-63

◗ He figures to be a solid favorite to remain undefeated on grass, given the eye-catching margins of each of his prior victories over the surface.

Giant Payday, by Giant’s Causeway Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-79

◗ Late-running chestnut enters in peak form, having followed an Ellis Park allowance triumph with a rallying score in the Mystic Lake at Canterbury.

Bronson, by Medaglia d’Oro Last 3 Beyers: 82-81-81

◗ Rail-drawn colt turns back from 1 5/16 miles after faring respectably in his first start under the care of Mike Maker earlier this month.

Mr Cub, by Artie Schiller Last 3 Beyers: 91-83-66

◗ Turf-bred colt probably would play two if they let him, but he’d settle for a race like his latest, which resulted in a fieldhigh Beyer.