Bourbon Courage Pointing to Commonwealth
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At Keeneland’s 2014 Fall Meet, Bourbon Lane Stable’s Bourbon Courage found a new career as a one-turn sprinter.
Put in a 6½-furlong sprint on the meet’s opening day by trainer Kellyn Gorder, Bourbon Courage romped to a 3 ¼-length victory. A solid work after that convinced the connections to give the Xpressbet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) a try and the son of Lion Heart did not disappoint. He finished fourth, beaten only two lengths while passing 10 horses in the stretch.
“I did not expect it, but I was not surprised by it,” Gorder said of his new sprinter, who closed 2014 with a third-place finish in the one-turn Cigar Mile (G1) behind Private Zone and Secret Circle. Yesterday Secret Circle won the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1).
After spending the winter at Tampa Bay Downs, Bourbon Courage returned to Keeneland last week to prepare for an anticipated start in Saturday’s $300,000 Commonwealth (G3) at seven furlongs.
“Right now, we are pointing only for the Commonwealth and he is setting on go for it,” Gorder said. “He had a good work last Tuesday (a bullet :47 half-mile) and will work again either Monday or Tuesday.”
In the Commonwealth, Bourbon Courage will seek to make amends for a 10th-place finish in the General George (G3) at Laurel on Feb. 16.
“We were planning to start him back about that time,” Gorder said. “That turned out to be a tough ship to Laurel (from Tampa). We shipped him up there Monday or Tuesday of that week and the temperature dropped when he got there.
“It was seven degrees on the day of the race. He didn’t seem like he handled the track and he was buried in the one hole. It was the worst finish of his life (in 22 starts), but he still did not get beat that far (5½ lengths).”
PROBABLE FIELDS FOR OPENING WEEKEND STAKES
$100,000 Transylvania (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select (Entries taken Monday, race Friday): A Lot, Another Lemon Drop, Danish Dynaformer, Divisidero, Palm Beach (G3) winner Eh Cumpari, Dania Beach (G3) winner Night Prowler, Saham and Tuba.
$1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) (Entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday): Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Carpe Diem, Classy Class, Danzig Moon, Frammento, Gorgeous Bird, Delta Jackpot (G3) winner Ocho Ocho Ocho, Pepper Roani, Toasting Master and Unrivaled. Possible: Tiz Shea D.
$500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) (Entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday): Achiever’s Legacy, Chandelier (G1) winner Angela Renee, Lassofthemohicans, Lovely Maria, Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner Peace and War, Silverpocketsfull, Temper Mint Patty and Golden Rod (G2) winner West Coast Belle.
$350,000 Madison (G1) (Entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday): Clearly Confused, Barbara Fritchie (G2) winner Lady Sabelia, Princess Violet, La Brea (G1) and Santa Monica (G2) winner Sam’s Sister, Fantasy (G3) winner Sugar Shock, Dogwood (G3) winner Thank You Marylou and 2013 Comely (G3) winner Wedding Toast.
$300,000 Commonwealth (G3) (Entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday): 2012 Super Derby (G2) winner Bourbon Courage, Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) winner C. Zee, Edge of Reality, Hip Four Sixtynine, Iowa Derby (G3) winner Jessica’s Star and San Vicente (G2) winner Kobe’s Back. Possible: Multiple graded stakes winner Valid, San Carlos (G2) winner Wild Dude.
$125,000 Shakertown (G3) (Entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday): Amelia’s Wild Ride, Channel Marker, Choctaw Chuck, Mellow Fellow, Mongolian Saturday, Power Alert (AUS), Speechify and Tightend Touchdown.
Source: Keeneland Barn Notes
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