Points towards the 2024 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks will be up for grabs with a pair of graded races for juveniles Saturday at Churchill Downs. Eight colts face off in the 1 1/16-mile GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. and an equal number of fillies head postward in the GII Golden Rod S. a race earlier on the card.
Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Risk It (Gun Runner), who already owns five Derby points thanks to his runner-up effort in the Sept. 16 GIII Iroquois S., is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Kentucky Jockey Club. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the colt was a debut winner at Saratoga Aug. 19.
West Point Thoroughbreds' Stretch Ride (Street Sense) brings a two-for-two record into his stakes debut Saturday. The colt graduated going six furlongs at Churchill Sept. 17 and romped by 5 3/4 lengths when stretched to 1 1/16 miles in an Oct. 14 Keeneland allowance for trainer Dale Romans.
While he has raced only twice, Stretch Ride has already logged plenty of frequent flyer miles. He was a bargain $5,000 Fasig-Tipton October purchase last year, before selling for €100,000 at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale in May.
Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16-miles Golden Rod. The filly broke her maiden by 8 1/2 lengths going seven furlongs at Keeneland Oct. 26 and came right back to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors with a nine-length romp in a one-mile allowance at Churchill Nov. 10.
Gary and Mary West's homebred West Sunset (West Coast), 2-1 on the morning line, comes into the Golden Rod off a front-running 6 3/4-length victory over this same track and distance in the Oct. 29 Rags to Riches S.
Graded stakes action Saturday also includes the GII Seabiscuit H. over the lawn at Del Mar and the GIII Comely S. for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.
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