Majestic Harbor Tepid Favorite in Louisville 'Cap
Gallant Stables' Majestic Harbor is the 116-pound high weight and was made the 7-2 morning line favorite against a competitive field of nine older horses for Saturday's 78th running of the $100,000 Louisville Handicap (Grade III), but it remains unclear if the 7-year-old will start in the 1 ½-mile marathon on the Matt Winn Turf Course.
"I'm still not 100-percent sure that we'll run, but we entered him," said trainer Paul McGee, who also has the $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational (GII), a 1 ½-mile dirt race on the June 6 Belmont Stakes undercard under consideration. "I've got to get with the owners. We may still opt to run in the Brooklyn. I just haven't consulted with the owners just yet, so that's how it stands."
Last year, Majestic Harbor sprang a 14-1 upset in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (GI) when under the care of West Coast trainer Sean McCarthy. He is coming into his next start off a pair of April victories in off-the-turf allowance races at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.
The Louisville Handicap field from the rail out (with jockey, assigned weight and morning line odds): Royal Blessing (Miguel Mena, 114 pounds, 12-1); Cozy Kitten (Julien Leparoux, 114, 8-1); Calvados-ARG (Rafael Hernandez, 115, 5-1); Layton Register (Jon Court, 113, 15-1); Majestic Harbor (Corey Lanerie, 116, 7-2); For Greater Glory (Joe Rocco Jr., 114, 12-1); Xtra Luck (Brian Hernandez Jr., 114, 4-1); Golden Soul (Robby Albarado, 115, 4-1); and Patrioticandproud (Shaun Bridgmohan, 116, 9-2).
Charles Fipke's 5-year-old Golden Soul has shown up in a dozen graded stakes races throughout his career but has yet to find success at such a level. Two years ago, the son of Perfect Soul was runner-up to Orb in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands. Golden Soul is two-for-two on the Matt Winn Turf Course and trainer Dallas Stewart, who won this race three years in a row with Silverfoot (2004-06), says that his affinity for the Churchill turf gives the horse a good advantage.
"He likes the track, and the race is at a mile-and-a-half distance," Stewart said. "We think he's going to like it."
Stewart went on to say that Golden Soul was a horse that he had to be patient with - much like he was with Saturday's Preakness runner-up Tale of Verve.
"He was second here going a mile first time out and then he won at Fair Grounds so he got with it a little earlier than Tale of Verve, but they're all different." Stewart said. "You just have to take your time with him. He's doing real well, I'm happy with him. His works have been good."
The Louisville Handicap goes as Race 8 on Saturday's 10-race card at approximately 4:18 p.m. ET. First post is 12:45 p.m. ET.
TRENDING
Seven-time Churchill Downs champion jockey Corey Lanerie regained the top spot in the local rider standings with eight wins last week (May 14-17). He enters Week 4 with a 17-13 advantage over Julien Leparoux. Robby Albarado is third with 12 wins after winning five last week, including a three-win day on Saturday. ... Tom Amoss led all trainers with three wins last week. Steve Asmussen enters the week as the top trainer with seven victories, one more than Todd Pletcher and Dale Romans. Amoss, Mark Casse, Chris Hartman and Mike Maker have five wins each. ... Richard and Karen Papiese's Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. and Maggi Moss are tied atop the owner's standings with three wins each. ... Commerce Alert: There have been 85 claimed horses for a total of $1,798,500 through the first 14 days of the 38-day Spring Meet compared to 54 for $1,196,500 over the same period a year ago.
DOWN THE STRETCH
Bayern, the reigning Breeders' Cup Classic winner, returned to the Churchill Downs work tab Wednesday morning with a six-furlong breeze in 1:11.80 - his first move since a subpar sixth of six finish in the $500,000 Churchill Downs (GII) on Kentucky Derby Day. The 4-year-old, with Miguel Mena aboard, clicked off fractions of :23.80, :35.60, :47.60 and :59.60. He galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25.20. Meanwhile, another Bob Baffert-trained runner, Hoppertunity, last year's Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) champ, breezed a half-mile in :49.60 on Tuesday. Baffert had previously said that Bayern's next target could be the $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap (GI) at one mile on the June 6 Belmont Stakes undercard. "Bob will come in and make his mind up where we're going," assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said. "We haven't quite decided yet." ... Churchill Downs has a special five-day racing schedule this week: Thursday (5 p.m. all times Eastern, 8 races), Friday (12:45 p.m., 9 races), Saturday (12:45 p.m., 10 races), Sunday (12:45 p.m., 10 races) and Memorial Day Monday (12:45 p.m., 11 races). ... The music of Killer Lips will entertain guests in the Plaza during today's Twilight Thursday eight-race program. Killer Lips is known around Louisville for their raw energy and performs Pop/Top 40 as well as 90s and Classic Rock. Also featured are $1 beer from 5-7 p.m., food trucks and a special Handicapping 101 tent for newcomers. Gates open at 4 p.m. Thursday, the first race is 5 p.m. and the finale is set for 8:39 p.m. ... There's a $6,447 carryover for Thursday in the 10-cent Lucky 7 Jackpot (Races 2-8) and a $3,078 carryover in the $2 Pick 6 (Races 3-8). ... General admission for all active and retired members of the United States armed forces is free on Monday, and there's a special $28 Memorial Day dining package in Millionaires Row 4 available for military as well. ... Track bugler Steve Buttleman will entertain Memorial Day attendees with patriotic songs following the "Call to the Post" for each race on Monday. He's also sure to decorate the Kentucky Derby Winner's Circle with an abundance of U.S. flags. ... The Memorial Day feature is the 12th running of the $100,000 Winning Colors (GIII), a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. Possible starters, according to assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork, are Enchanting Lisa, Heykittykittykitty, Milam, defending champ Southern Honey, Spring Included, Toni's Hollyday and You Bought Her. Entries will be taken on Friday. ... The weekly "Who's the Champ? Handicapping Contest" returns Sunday in Churchill Downs' ITW area on the second floor of the Clubhouse. Bettors can enter for $35 ($30 for TSC Elite members) and are required to make mythical $2 Win/Place bets on Races 3-8. The highest bankroll will win a $1,000 cash voucher or free entry to the Churchill Downs Challenge on June 13. Second place is a $500 voucher and third is a $250 voucher. Registration takes place Sunday between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the top of the Gate 17 escalators. ... Approximately 800 guests participated in Family Adventure Day activities last Sunday despite inclement weather. The next event, in conjunction with Kroger and Kosair Children's Hospital, is scheduled for Father's Day on Sunday, June 21. ... Birthdays: Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Graham Motion (51) on Friday; trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi (41) on Saturday; former Hall of Fame and Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Don Brumfield (77) on Sunday; and trainer Ian Wilkes (50) on Monday. Belated birthday wishes to trainer Grant Forster, who celebrated No. 41 this past Monday. ... The sixth annual "Buck" Wheat Golf Scramble to benefit The Backside Learning Center is Tuesday at South Park Country Club (915 South Park Road, Fairdale, Ky. 40118). The shotgun start is 12:30 p.m. and a reception with silent auction will follow the tournament. For more information, contact the BLC at (502) 634-6543.
Source: Churchill Downs