6/10/2010

STAKES ACTION AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

Blame draws outside in Stephen Foster

Multiple Grade 2 winner BLAME (Arch) will bring a three-race winning streak into the $600,000 Stephen Foster H. (G1), including an excellent victory in the Clark H. (G2) at Churchill Downs last fall, and rates as the horse to beat in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile event. However, the Al Stall Jr. runner didn't receive any favors in the post position draw, receiving the far outside in a strong 11-horse field that includes New Orleans H. (G2) winner BATTLE PLAN (Empire Maker), multiple Grade 1 victor GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa), Alysheba S. (G3) hero ARSON SQUAD (Brahms), Oaklawn H. (G2) conqueror DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) and defending champion MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno).

Blame, who captured the Fayette S. (G2) at Keeneland prior to his head win in the Clark, tuned up for the Foster with a sharp 1 1/2-length tally in the William Donald Schaefer S. (G3) at Pimlico on May 15, and the four-year-old colt owns a commendable overall record of 9-6-1-2. Garrett Gomez will retain the mount on the 120-pound co-highweight.

Battle Plan hasn't dropped a start since his career debut, winning four straight for conditioner Todd Pletcher, and the surging five-year-old reeled off two straight convincing triumphs over allowance rivals at Gulfstream Park this winter before making his stakes debut last time in the nine-furlong New Orleans at Fair Grounds, scoring by 1 1/2 lengths in front-running fashion. The speedy horse will tote 119 pounds and looms as a serious wire-to-wire threat from post 2 with Javier Castellano.

General Quarters and Arson Squad will share 120-pound highweight duties. Tom McCarthy's General Quarters posted a game neck win in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) last time out after recording three straight seconds in dirt stakes at Fair Grounds, including the New Orleans. The classy gray colt will pick up a new rider in Alex Solis. Arson Squad will enter on the upswing for Richard Dutrow, romping by 3 3/4 lengths in the Skip Away S. (G3) before an authoritative 2 1/4-length decision in the April 30 Alysheba at Churchill. The multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire will keep Paco Lopez in the saddle.

Duke of Mischief has been freshened off a 2 1/2-length victory in the April 3 Oaklawn H., and the David Fawkes pupil also captured the Ft. Lauderdale S. (G3) earlier this season. Eibar Coa will be in to ride. Macho Again drew off to a one-length win in the 2009 Foster and finished second in both the Whitney H. (G1) and Woodward S. (G1) last season. The five-year-old gets in light at 116 pounds on Saturday due to unplaced efforts in his last three starts, including a seventh in the Alysheba, and will look to rebound with regular rider Robby Albarado.

The Foster is the centerpiece of a superb 11-race Kentucky Derby Alumni Day program at Churchill that features five graded stakes

On the Kentucky worktab

Illinois Derby (G3) winner AMERICAN LION (Tiznow), 11th in the Kentucky Derby (G1), worked five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 over the Keeneland Polytrack at Wednesday.

Pan American S. (G3) winner BEARPATH (Dynaformer), runner-up in the Louisville H. (G3) last time, traveled four furlongs in :50 2/5 over the good dirt at the Skylight Training Center.

Grade 3 lass BE FAIR (Exchange Rate), the trailer in the La Troienne S. (G2) most recently, went in :50 3/5 over the sloppy main track at Churchill Downs.

from brisnet.com