Conquest Panthera cuts back in distance in Wise Dan
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Gary Barber’s Conquest Panthera was most recently a disappointing eighth-place finisher in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Grade I) on the Kentucky Derby undercard but could benefit from cutting back in distance.
“I thought his last race was a bit too far for him,” assistant trainer Norm Casse said. “We think he should improve with cutting back in distance in the Wise Dan.”
The Wise Dan, run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course will go as Race 6 at 8:35 p.m.
Two starts back in the Makers 46 Mile (GI) at Keeneland, Conquest Panthera closed from off the pace but was narrowly defeated by American Patriot and Heart to Heart. In the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, Conquest Panthera was forwardly placed but faltered in the late stages of the race.
“This race is a bit of a class relief from the back-to-back Grade Is he’s been running in,” Casse said. “Along with the distance challenges in the (1 1/8-mile) Woodford, I don’t think he really liked the condition of the (yielding) turf. Hopefully the grass is firm by Saturday night and we’ll see how he takes to it.”
The Wise Dan field from the rail out (with jockeys and morning line odds): Security Risk (John Velazquez, 5-1); Bondurant (Brian Hernandez Jr., 8-1); Thatcher Street (Julien Leparoux, 4-1); Chocolate Ride (Shaun Bridgmohan, 5-1); Kasaqui (ARG) (James Graham, 6-1); Conquest Panthera (Robby Albarado, 6-1); Pleuven (FR) (Corey Lanerie, 3-1); and Blofeld (Joel Rosario, 10-1). All horses will carry 121 pounds.
Casse also plans to run Summer Luck in the $100,000 Regret Presented by Cox’s Smokers Outlets (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
“We know Summer Luck is a talented horse,” Casse said. “She’s proven to us in training that she is. We just need to find the right spot to put her. I think everything about this race is perfect: the distance, the turf and the timing.”
The Regret is carded as Race 9 with a post time of approximately 10:15 p.m.
The Regret field from the rail out (with jockeys and morning line odds): Blame the Law (Joel Rosario, 15-1); Sweeping Paddy (Luis Saez, 4-1); La Manta Gris (Julien Leparoux, 15-1); Proctor’s Ledge (Corey Lanerie, 7-2); Like a Hurricane (Brian Hernandez Jr., 12-1); Anothertequilashot (Gabriel Saez, 30-1); Summer Luck (Florent Geroux, 10-1); Savannah Belle (Declan Cannon, 12-1); Sameeha (Joe Rocco Jr., 8-1); Fizzy Friday (GB) (John Velazquez, 10-1); Starr Bear (Javier Castellano, 8-1); and Chubby Star (Ricardo Santana Jr., 5-1).
Source: Churchill Downs
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