Fourteen Colts Take a Shot in the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes

The Dixiana Bourbon Stakes is a Breeders Cup Challenge race. The winner receives a reservation in the Juvenile Turf starting gate.

Two past Bourbon winners finished third in the BC Juvie Turf.  in 2012 Balance the Books won the Bourbon and finished third in the Juvenile Turf. In 2009, Interactif  The inaugural winner of the BC Juvie Turf, Nownownow, finished second in that year’s Bourbon Stakes to eventual two-time champ Gio Ponti.

A full field of 14 with two Also Eligibles are entered in the 1 1/16 mile, Grade Three contest. Four of the colts own blacktype.

The Favorite:

It’s a little unusual to see a two year old by California’s most expensive sire racing in a graded stakes event.  Unusual Heat’s offspring are slow maturing individuals who are most competitive over the lawn. They typically develop as late three year olds and hit their peak around age five.  So it was a bit surprising when HOT ORE  (Unusual Heat - Barbara Orr, by Tale of the Cat) won in his third start, his first start over the turf.  He wheeled back in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, racing in second place the entire way.  Hot Ore is a half brother to the stakes winner ROCK ME BABY, who also placed in the Del Mar Mile (G-2).  Hot Ore has improved his speed figures in each start.  His trainer Robertino Diodoro has a 26% win rate with shippers.  This spring, horses shipping to Keeneland from Del Mar were 1-3.

Trainer Angles:

If it’s a graded stakes race, generally there is a Pletcher horse in there somewhere. Todd Pletcher has earned three Bourbon Stakes trophies, the last was in 2009.  This year, UNBRIDLED DADDY (Scat Daddy - Unbridled Essence, by Essence of Dubai) will try to make it four. The colt is the first foal out of the Grade 3 winning turf router Unbridled Essence.  After winning his maiden at 1 1/16 miles on the lawn, Unbridled Daddy and jockey Jose Ortiz took a shot in the With Anticipation Stakes.  They went six wide around the turn, made a detour through the track apron and made up ground to finish third, 3 ¼  lengths behind the winner.  Javier Castellano takes over for the Bourbon Stakes. During the Keeneland Spring meet, Pletcher/ Castellano teamed for 30% wins.  Unbridled Daddy may find himself weaving through traffic or going wide in the full Bourbon field.

Ken McPeek also owns three Bourbon Stakes trophies.  He won in 1998, 2010 and last year with Lawn Ranger.  This year, McPeek entered Argot and Samicean. After failing to hit the board in three starts, ARGOT (Stroll - Argue, by Storm Cat) visited the winner’s circle when stretching to 6 ½ furlongs on the turf. There is only one blacktype earner in the first two generations of Argot’s female family, but there’s plenty of back class. His second dam Verbal is a half sister to the multiple stakes winner and sire E DUBAI.  Her half sister Del Mar Oaks heroine NO MATTER WHAT, bore the multiple Group 1 winner RAINBOW VIEW. Breeders' Cup Classic winner RAVENS PASS is also a member of this family.  Argot could press the pace, which will give him the jump on the one run closers.

Ken McPeek’s other entrant SAMICEAN (GER)  (Medicean (GB) - Samerous (FR), by Generous (IRE)) will need two horses to scratch from the Bourbon in order to draw in. The colt’s dam is Group 3 placed in Italy.  Samicean won his 1 1/16 mile debut at Churchill on the lawn.

Two trainers noted for their skill in conditioning turf horses are Chad Brown and Bill Mott.  Not surprisingly, both have won previous editions of the Bourbon Stakes.  Brown won in 2012, while Mott’s sole victory was in 1994. 

A stakes race on the turf at Keeneland often has a kitten or two in the lineup. The names Brown and Ramsey are often associated with it.  CAMELOT KITTEN (Kitten's Joy - Celestial Woods, by Forestry) races for the connections after a courageous neck victory in his debut at 1 1/16 miles over the Belmont turf.  Camelot Kitten is a full brother to BOBBY'S KITTEN, who finished third in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and la year later won the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.  Camelot Kitten is also a full brother   to the listed winner MAJOR MAGIC. Brown and Irad Ortiz, Jr. team for a 25% win strike.  

Bill Mott hopes to find his way back to the winner’s circle with SITE READ  (Tizdejavu - Missannalouise, by Storm Creek). After a widening 4 ½ length maiden victory, Site Read wheeled back in the With Anticipation Stakes (G-3).  The colt had a perfect early trip and challenged three wide around the turn, but tired to finish fourth. It was a good effort and he should be stronger in the Bourbon Stakes.  Site Read is a half brother to the stakes placed turfer Little Jerry. Mott/Lezcano teamed for a 30% win rate this spring at Keeneland.  

Mark Casse has a double shot in the Bourbon. Both of his charges won their debuts by open lengths at Kentucky Downs.  SIDING SPRING (Warrior's Reward - Legendary Peace, by Peace Rules) galloped away from his rivals, strolling under the wire six lengths in front.  The mile race over good turf was run in a slow 1:42, so it’s hard to make an assessment of the colt’s talent.  Siding Spring is his dam’s first foal to race.  She’s a half sister to ERMINE, who was second in the Kentucky Oaks and later won the Apple Blossom Handicap (G-1).  In his latest breeze, Siding Spring worked in company with the recent maiden winner Smart Moon, who was a $500,000 yearling.  However, in late August, he hooked up with Airoforce and was asked to keep up with his stablemate.

Casse’s second shot, and in my opinion, the stronger of the two, is AIROFORCE (Colonel John - Chocolate Pop, by Cuvee).  A three-length winner sprinting at Kentucky Downs, Airoforce traveled six furlongs in a strong 1:10 over firm turf.  The pretty gray colt is the first foal out of his stakes placed dam.  Airoforce recently breezed in company with the well bred recent maiden winner Conquest Big E. The pair completed four furlongs over the Churchill dirt in 47.20 (2/32).   

Logical Longshots:

SALLISAW (Exchange Rate - Smokey Diplomacy, by Dynaformer) was the favorite in his debut.  He ran greenly, and was whaled on by Junior Alvarado through the stretch. The colt managed to pass the tired pace setters to get the win by ¾ length. Pushed into the Hopeful Stakes, Sallisaw was off slow, but picked up a check for fourth place, 11 lengths behind Ralis.  Sallisaw has a strong turf pedigree, but overall modest distaff line.  He’s a half brother to the multiple stakes winning dirt sprinter CLEAR THE RUNWAY. Two of his three half siblings that raced on the lawn are winners.  Their dam is a stakes placed turf miler and her half sister bore a stakes placed turf runner.  Sallisaw posted a pre-race bullet four furlong move in :46.99.  This is an experiment for Sallisaw to figure out what he wants to do when he grows up.  He could freak over the lawn and be good enough to win, but I think it more likely that he can pick up a check and ruin somebody’s superfecta.

UNCLE BRENNIE (Uncle Mo - Moon Music, by Malibu Moon) has won his last two starts, including a 1 ¾ length victory in the Sunday Silence Stakes at Louisiana Downs. The son of leading freshman sensation has won his last two starts against softer company. The colt’s dam is a half sister to the multiple graded stakes winner EUPHONY and to the turf stakes winner STRIKE AGAIN.  His second dam STRIKE IT UP is a listed winner.  Uncle Bernie can sit in a good position directly behind the pace setters and could be talented enough to hit the board.

SURGICAL STRIKE (Red Giant - Preemptive Attack, by Smart Strike) made a three wide move at Kentucky Downs to win his maiden by a nose, getting six furlongs in 1:11.  Surgical Strike should benefit from the extra distance. His jockey Florent  Geroux has an outstanding 22% win rate over turf, that’s higher than any other jock in the race.  Surgical Strike is a half brother to G-2 winner SKY TREASURE. His second dam BOLD RURITANA was Champion Older Mare and Champion Turf Mare in Canada.

The Rest:

The rest of the field hasn’t run fast enough to be competitive here. They could possibly improve, but it would have to be a huge leap for them to win. 

TEQUILA JOE (Stormy Atlantic - Strike It Up, by Smart Strike) won his one mile turf debut by 4 ½ lengths.  He is closely related to Uncle Brennie, as Tequila Joe is a half brother to Uncle Brennie’s dam. Trainer Michael Stidham gets 7% stakes winners.

DON'T BE SO SALTY (Tiz Wonderful - Unbridled Salt, by Unbridled's Song) owns the highest late pace speed figure in the field, but earned it sprinting at  Presque Isle Downs.   Don't Be So Salty previously finished third in the Schenectady Stakes at Saratoga sprinting on the lawn.  His second dam is a stakes winner, but there isn’t much blacktype in the first three generations of his distaff line. Don't Be So Salty makes his first start for the Contessa Barn.  They have a 3% win rate with stakes races.

 ONE MEAN MAN (Mizzen Mast - Abbeyville Miss, by Grand Slam)  finished third in his first start off of a layoff.  He posted a pre-race bullet four furlongs in :48 at Churchill in a solid move with a strong gallop out.  One Mean Man is a full brother to the G-3 turf mare MIZ MONEY.

EXPECTED RULER   (Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) - Expected Pleasures, by Allen's Prospect) gets back to the turf after a 31 length beating in the Iroquois.  In his pre-race work, he was asked hard to pick it up to the wire.

RUNAWAY KING (Run Away and Hide - Dearest Queen, by Proudest Romeo) (AE) was beaten by over seven lengths in the With Anticipation Stakes. His trainer Tim Ice has been ice cold in stakes races, with a 0-12 record in graded stakes.

SELECTIONS:

The Bourbon Stakes always attracts a full field.  Three of the last five winners paid double digits to win and closed from the back of the pack.  Six colts in the Bourbon like to be on or near the lead. It is entirely likely that there will be traffic jams going around the first turn as they develop a pecking order. In such a full field, the one with the best trip usually wins.

#13  AIROFORCE (8-1)

#9  CAMELOT KITTEN (6-1)

#5  UNBRIDLED DADDY (5-1)

#6  SURGICAL STRIKE (30-1)  – longshot pick