Saham Takes On Dozen in Commonwealth Turf
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Sultan Bin Mishal’s Saham will be attempting to win his second graded stakes at Churchill Downs when he takes on a dozen 3-year-olds in Friday’s 12th running of the Commonwealth Turf (GIII) over 1 1/16 miles on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course.
Two starts ago, the son of Lemon Drop Kid won the Jefferson Cup (GIII) over the Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course which gave him his first graded stakes victory. He followed that win with a runner-up effort in the Hawthorne Derby (GIII) last month finishing 2 ¼ lengths behind eventual winner Lucky Lindy. Trainer Brendan Walsh stated that his horse had a bit of traffic trouble during his most recent outing.
“When he finally got room he ran well,” Walsh said. “[Jockey] Joe [Rocco Jr.] seems to think that he would have been a bit closer to the winner had he gotten some racing room earlier on.”
In nine starts this year, Saham has never been beaten more than four lengths while scoring three victories. Walsh has high hopes that his horse will only improve with age and has his sights set on a 4-year-old campaign.
“We’ve programmed this horse the whole time to make a good older horse,” he said. “We really think he’s going to be a good older horse next year. If he keeps on improving and keeps doing what he’s doing, I think he could be competitive in Grade I races next year. He’s very consistent and tries hard every time. We’ll probably give him a good rest after this race and focus on some of the bigger races at Keeneland and Churchill in the spring of next year. It’s all a matter of how he progresses.”
The Commonwealth Turf field (with jockey and odds) from the rail out: Nucifera (John Velazquez; 5-1), Czar (Mike Smith; 20-1), Almasty (Jon Court; 8-1), Quality Bird (Chris Landeros; 10-1), Wayward Kitten (Ricardo Santana, Jr.; 10-1), Bullards Alley (Marcelino Pedroza; 30-1), Bucchero (Shaun Bridgmohan; 30-1), One Go All Go (Julien Leparoux; 6-1), Nun The Less (Robby Albarado; 6-1), Magic of Believing (Corey Lanerie; 20-1), Granny’s Kitten (Martin Garcia; 6-1), Saham (Joe Rocco, Jr.; 4-1), Obsidian Splendor (Carlos Sullivan; 12-1).
Source: Churchill Downs
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