Churchill Downs news: Bourbon Resolution's future on turf?
Bourbon Lane Stable’s Ben Ali Stakes (G3) winner Bourbon Resolution recorded his first workout on the turf Sunday with a five-furlong move in 1:02.60 at Churchill Downs. Following the breeze, trainer Ian Wilkes said the June 15 Wise Dan (G2) could be next for the 4-year-old colt.
“We’ll definitely entertain the option of the Wise Dan,” Wilkes said. “I really liked his action that he was getting on the turf. He seemed to get over the ground very nicely.”
Wilkes’ son-in-law, jockey Chris Landeros, was aboard for the breeze. It was the Bourbon Resolution's second workout following a seventh-place effort in the Alysheba (G3) on Kentucky Oaks day.
“We broke off just behind two of Brad Cox’s horses breezing on the turf (Arklow and Beau Recall),” Landeros said. “We were going five furlongs and they were going a half-mile.
"(Bourbon Resolution) moved around there so nicely. He’s the epitome of class. We’ll see where he ends up next.”
Bourbon Resolution, a dark bay or brown colt by New Year’s Day, sports a record 3-1-3 through 10 stars with earnings of $235,340.
Nominations for the Wise Dan close Saturday.
STAKES PROBABLES – Entries for Saturday night’s 11-race Downs After Dark program will be drawn Monday. The card features the $120,000 Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes and the $125,000 Aristides (Listed).
Entrants for the six-furlong Aristides could include Control Stake (trainer Greg Foley), Mr. Crow (Ben Colebrook), Mr. Jagermeister (Valorie Lund) and Share the Upside (Steve Asmussen), according to Churchill Downs’ assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork.
Trainer Rusty Arnold reported Friday that 5-year-old mare Morticia is likely to take on the boys in the Mighty Beau at five furlongs on the Matt Winn Turf Course.
DOWN THE STRETCH – Stephen Foster probable entrant Alkhaatam worked a bullet half-mile in :48 at 5:30 a.m. Sunday. Trained by Danny Peitz, Alkhaatam scored a 3 ¼-length win in a one-mile first-level allowance on May 12 at Churchill Downs. The gray son of Tapit cruised to victory in a final time of 1:35.17.