Bullards Alley gives Glyshaw 1st graded win with Louisville Handicap
Wayne Spalding and Faron McCubbins’ Bullards Alley grabbed the lead from pacesetters Wireless Future and Dynamic Sky at the head of the stretch and drew away late to beat Johns Kitten by 2 ¼ lengths in Saturday’s 79th running of the $100,000 Louisville Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.
Bullards Alley, ridden by veteran jockey Francisco Torres, ran 1 ½ miles over a Matt Winn Turf Course rated “good” in 2:36.01 to give trainer Tim Glyshaw his first graded stakes win.
Wireless Future set the pace for the grass marathon from the onset through fractions of :26.04, :52.51, 1:19.04 and 1:45.60 with 8-5 favorite Dynamic Sky pressing from second and Bullards Alley tracking in third from the outside. Dynamic Sky briefly grabbed the lead at top of the stretch but Bullards Alley wore them down with a four-wide move and drew clear late under steady urging from Torres.
“It was a beautiful trip,” Torres said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better trip. He’s the kind of horse that stays and he won so easy.”
The victory was worth $61,380 and improved Bullards Alley’s earnings to $256,191 with a record of 19-5-2-4.
Like Glyshaw, the Louisville Handicap was Bullards Alley’s first graded stakes victory. In December, he won the $75,000 Woodchopper over a mile in the mud at Fair Grounds. This was Bullards Alley’s first win in six attempts on turf.
“We were undecided,” said assistant trainer Natalie Glyshaw, who saddled Bullards Alley for her husband. “We were going to just run on the main track (if the race was transferred to dirt because of rainfall). He’s never won a race on the turf until today.”
Bullards Alley, a 4-year-old gelded son of Flower Alley out of the Kris S. mare Flower Forest, was bred in Kentucky byEugene Melnyk.
Bullards Alley, who carried 114 pounds, returned $13.80, $6 and $3.60 as the 5-1 fourth betting choice in the field of six older horses. Johns Kitten, who trailed the field early under James Graham and 114 pounds, paid $5.20 and $3. Roman Approval, ridden by Robby Albarado at 117 pounds, was another half-length back in third and returned $2.60.
Tiz Town, 8-5 favorite Dynamic Sky and Wireless Future completed the order of finish. Aldous Snow was scratched.
Source: Churchill Downs