Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
KENTUCKY DOWNS Weather key to Ladies stakes
FRANKLIN, Ky. – A threat of showers in southern Kentucky on Saturday has horsemen examining weather reports in addition to the competition in five stakes at Kentucky Downs. Few races could be affected as much by rain softening the condition of the turf course than the day’s two stakes restricted to females – the $450,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs and the $500,000 Ladies Turf at a mile, both Grade 3 events.
The Ladies Sprint, for which defending champion Lull is the 2-1 morning-line favorite, would figure to become far more competitive on a wet course. Lull’s trainer, Christophe Clement, believes she is at her best on firm going, while some of her rivals have run well on wet turf. Among those are Ruby Notion, who upset the Caress Stakes at Saratoga on soft ground.
On firm turf, the Ladies Turf is one of the most competitive races at Kentucky Downs on Saturday. Eight of the 10 entrants earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88 to 92 in their last race.
The Ladies Sprint boils down to just a few contenders, with Lull being the obvious filly to beat. A Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 placed, she has won both her starts over the Kentucky Downs turf course. She won the seven-furlong Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies in 2016, as well as the Ladies Sprint last year when it was ungraded. It was elevated to Grade 3 status this year.
Clement believes her success at Kentucky Downs is related to distance.
“Six furlongs to a mile, she’s very efficient and can race with everybody,” he said. “And ideal is something like six and a half. It’s perfect.”
Riding her is Brian Hernandez Jr., who was also aboard for her prior victories at Kentucky Downs.
“As a trainer, he makes my life easier,” Clement said. “More than the filly, he has a very good work ethic. I like that he does his homework. He is prepared.”
A 4-year-old daughter of War Front owned by her breeders, Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, Lull was most recently third in the Grade 2 Royal North at Woodbine, a race Clement used as an alternative spot after scratching her from the Caress when it was contested on soft turf at Saratoga.
Ladies Sprint entrant Brielle’s Appeal also has won over the European-style course at Kentucky Downs, having won here last September in her debut. That success over the course led trainer Al Stall to target this race for Brielle’s Appeal.
She struggled in the Caress, running ninth, but had been on the board in her four earlier starts, including a race on soft ground at Keeneland. A quickbreaking, speedy filly, Brielle’s Appeal is the projected pacesetter Saturday under regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan.
There are no course winners in the Ladies Turf. Only three entrants have raced at Kentucky Downs – Bonnie Arch, Oh So Terrible, and Dubara – and none has recorded a top-three finish locally. Hallie Belle and In the Lee have raced exclusively on firm ground.
The Ladies Turf drew horses from coast to coast. Kentuckybased I’m Betty G is a tepid 7-2 favorite on the morning line, followed by California raider Storm the Hill at 4-1 and New York shipper In the Lee at 5-1.
Mike Stidham said he is waiting to see what the weather is like before shipping Hallie Belle in Friday from Arlington for the Ladies Turf and Noted and Quoted for the Ladies Sprint. He also is considering races next week at Woodbine for them.