As the final week of the Churchill Downs September stand begins Wednesday, several familiar stakes-class horses show up in the feature, a $148,000 allowance/optional-claiming race for 3-year-olds and up who have not won twice other-than since July 14, 2024.
Dragoon Guard, trained by Brad Cox, had a fine 3-year-old campaign last year, winning the Grade 3 Indiana Derby and Grade 3 West Virginia Derby before finishing a solid third in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. The colt is now making his third start of this year following a pair of well-spaced efforts in allowance/optional-claiming company.
Going a one-turn mile in May at Churchill, he was second, beaten a half-length. On Aug. 28 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, going the 1 1/16-mile distance of Wednesday’s race, he was second, beaten a head by Best Actor, who he faces again here. In both efforts, he was forwardly placed, held the lead, and was caught late.
Having Dragoon Guard or others as targets would suit Honor Marie, who makes his first start as a gelding. A grinding late run carried him to victory in the Isaac Murphy Marathon earlier this year. He then was a well-beaten seventh stepping back into graded stakes company in the Grade 2 Suburban.
He gets class relief as he returns to his favorite track. His three wins from five starts here include the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at 1 1/16 miles in 2023, as well as the Murphy. His only unplaced effort locally came when he finished eighth in the 2024 Kentucky Derby.