Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables and LNJ Foxwoods' Olympiad (Speightstown) will take aim at a fourth straight victory when he heads a field of eight in the GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs Friday. The 4-year-old opened the year with an optional-claiming score at Gulfstream Jan. 15 and added wins in the Feb. 19 GIII Mineshaft S. and Mar. 26 GII New Orleans Classic S. at Fair Grounds. The likely pacesetter in the 1 1/16-mile race, Olympiad will be making his first start at Churchill Downs.
Wertheimer and Frere's Happy Saver (Super Saver), who won the first five starts of his career, including the 2020 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, lost his unbeaten tag when third in the GII Suburban H. last July. Second in defense of his Gold Cup title last September and again in the GI Clark H. in November, the 5-year-old will look to return to winning ways while making his 2022 debut in the Alysheba.
Max Player (Honor Code), who was fifth in the 2020 GI Kentucky Derby in his lone previous start at Churchill Downs, won last year's Suburban and Gold Cup, but was never in the mix when eighth in the Nov. 6 GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Both of his 2021 graded wins came at 1 1/4 miles and the Alysheba's 1 1/16-mile distance will be his shortest trip since breaking his maiden over one mile in December of 2019.
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