In Kentucky this festival is in full swing and there are five graded stakes on the card.
The first of these is the Ladies Marathon Invitational Gr 3 over 2100m with 11 runners, most of whom have been bred overseas. Current favourite is German bred Spanish Eyes on 7/2 for Walsh-Curtin ahead of the English bred Miwa on 4/1 for Sharp-J L Ortiz. Beach Bomb is South African bred and is on 9/2 for Motion-Saez and No More Candy 61 for Joseph- I Ortiz.
The Mint Millions Invitational Gr 3 is over 1600m on turf with 13 runners headed by Lagynos for Asmussen- J L Ortiz. Goliad is on 5/1 for Mandella-Prat and Spirit of St Louis for Brown-Franco and Major Dude for Pletcher-Velazquez are both on 6/1. We don't know much about these runners so watch the betting.
The AGS Music City Gr 2 is over 1300m turf with a full field of 12 runners and 4 emergencies. Shisospicy is on 3/1 for d'Angelo- I Ortiz, Kilwin 4/1 for Arnold- J L Ortiz, and then an English raider in Ralph Beckett's Tabiti on 5/1 with Dettori to ride and Classic Q 9/2 for Casse-Prat.
The Ainsworth Franklin-Simpson Gr 1 is over 1300m and again has 12 runners and 4 emergencies. Spiced Up ison 7/2 for Mott-Alvarado, Governor Sam whom we like a lot is on 4/1 for Weaver-Irad Ortiz and if you want a horse on 6/1 you have a choice of Troubleshooting, Dream on or Chasing Liberty.
The Kentucky Turf Invitational is over 2400m and Gr 2 with 11 runners. Grand Sonata is on 4/1 for Pletcher-Gaffalione, Mercante 5/1 for Knippenberg-Ramos, and Fort Washington we like here at 9/2 for McCaughey-Alvarado and Utah Beach 6/1 for Correas-Rosario,
Del Mar on Saturday hosts the Debutante Stakes for the 2yo fillies over 1600m with 7 contestants led by Explora 8/5 for Baffert-J Hernandez who is by Blame and stablemate Himika ia by Curlin and on 2/1 with Kimura to ride the daughter of Curlin. Also Bottle of Rouge, another stablemate who is by Vino Rosso is on 5/1 with Smith in the irons.
The John C Mabee Gr 2 over 1800m turf has 9 runners with Medoro 5/2 for Eurton-Rispoli. Gime a Nother is on 3/1 for Motion – J Hernandez and Hang The Moon 5/1 for d'Amato- Kimura.
We will do the Sunday card later as no morning line so far.
