By Joe Bianca
A field of 14, all with considerable intrigue, will contest the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Saturday evening under the Twin Spires, with all of them looking to take their first step toward a return to Louisville on the first Saturday in May.
Two 'TDN Rising Stars' will each try to go three-for-three to start their careers, with each following similar paths to this engagement. WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing's Quip (Distorted Humor) scored a game victory debuting at six furlongs here Sept. 23 before truly blossoming in a 6 1/2-length romp while still showing greenness going 1 1/16 miles in Lexington. Winchell Thoroughbreds' Reride (Candy Ride {Arg}), meanwhile, romped at first asking going 4 1/2 furlongs here June 8 before repeating at 10-1 on the Keeneland turf Oct. 25.
Godolphin homebred Enticed (Medaglia d'Oro) has the look of a Classic contender for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The first foal out of MGISW It's Tricky (Mineshaft), the bay graduated on debut going six furlongs at Saratoga and ran big to be third in the GI Champagne S. Oct. 7 at Belmont. Enticed was one of two horses close to the pace who stuck around late; the other was GI Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Good Magic (Curlin).
The top three finishers from the local prep for this, the Oct. 29 Street Sense S., re-oppose. Lothenbach Stables' Gotta Go (Shanghai Bobby) and G M B Racing's Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior) fought it out through the Churchill stretch, with the former just proving best by a head. Third runner Bravazo (Awesome Again) was runner-up at 47-1 in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity.
Robert J. Baron's Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) and Cash Is King's Diamond King (Quality Road) are each two-for-two as they enter their two-turn debut. Promises Fulfilled ran away to a four-length win in his local debut Sept. 17, a race that produced six next-out winners, before tallying by a hard-fought neck Oct. 13 at Keeneland. Bought for $235,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old in training, Diamond King voyages away from his Parx home base for the first time after scoring by open lengths there Sept. 23 and Oct. 22.
The priciest purchase of the race is Gainesway Farm, Helen C. Alexander, Stuart E. Huston and John C. Oxley's Arrival (Tapit). An $800,000 Keeneland September yearling, the gray took five tries to break his maiden, but did so impressively over track and trip 17 days ago.
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