A nine-race Friday card at Churchill Downs is highlighted by a pair of allowances on the turf. A particularly competitive lineup is set for the sixth race, a $127,000 allowance for 3-year-olds and up.
Seven Wonders, the elder statesman in the field at age 6, is the 4-5 favorite on the morning line in the 1 1/16-mile race. He technically meets the conditions, as he has never officially won two races. He did cross the line first in a Del Mar allowance but was disqualified for interference.
Seven Wonders, who was seventh in the Grade 2 John Henry in September, may be a vulnerable favorite off a layoff and in his first start outside of California, although he has been training at the Thoroughbred Center all spring for Peter Eurton. If one considers him beatable, that makes this a key leg in multi-race wagers, particularly if the pick six carryover survives. Churchill began its race week Wednesday with a $810,513 carryover.
The most lightly raced entrant, and perhaps a live longshot with some upside, is Esmark, the only member of this field with a win on the Churchill turf. The colt was third in his debut sprinting last August at Kentucky Downs. Going two turns for the first time, he was sixth in a Keeneland allowance in April, when he was roughed up into the first turn.
“He was coming off a pretty good layoff,” trainer Vicki Oliver said. “He was about two works short, so I was kind of using that race to gain a couple works.”
Esmark took a step forward with a cleaner trip going two turns at Churchill, rallying to win a maiden race on May 26.
“He’s always shown me ability,” Oliver said. “He ran very well first time out, so I expect him to run a good race. This is the first time against winners, but I expect him to run well.”
Several in this field drop out of stakes this year, including Warlander, who faced the highest-level company when well-beaten in the Grade 1 American Turf.
“He’s always been a horse we’ve had a lot of hope in and confidence for,” said David Fiske, manager for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds. “He’s run in stakes a few times. [He] has not run as well as we had hoped.”
Warlander, making his third start off a layoff for Steve Asmussen, got his only win in a maiden race at Kentucky Downs, where Ron Winchell is co-managing partner.
“Not too surprisingly, we’re trying to get him cranked up for Kentucky Downs,” Fiske said. “Get him fit, get him happy, get some experience, and hopefully we’re ready for Franklin, Kentucky.”
Papiamento comes in fresh after two thirds on Turfway Park’s Tapeta, finishing behind next-out stakes performers. Whit Beckman adds blinkers as Papiamento gets back to turf, on which he won a maiden race.
The other allowance on the card is a $134,000 turf allowance for older horses. These two turf races are likely to stay on the lawn, as the area should dry out with a Friday forecast of sunny weather in the high 80s.
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