HORSES TO WATCH

By: AMERICAN TURF CLUB

TURF PARADISE

BLADE SCUFFLER: Kept raging form with second straight front-running and dominant win most recently; simply a new horse since back on turf, he must stay on your tickets.

COUNTY KILDARE: Broke slowly and then raced wide when an acceptable and relatively even fifth of nine in her first start since March 11 most recently; tuned up now.

KATIE’S DAN (NZ): Put in a willing run only to come up lacking a touch late when third in an improved try on needed class drop most recently; another shot with similar crew.

TRU TUDI: Chased the pace, took over, and ultimately proved second best behind easy winner in her latest; her turn for overdue score at NW2L level next time.

CLAY W. WOODSTOCK: Didn’t have the best start (“bumped, crowded”) in his latest, but made his way to race in striking range and gave good effort for second; primed for third start back from January-layoff.

DESERT LIGHTNING: Battled inside and tired to finish fourth behind easy winner when tested at restricted stakes level most recently; 3YO has been in tough since maiden win three back, but merits attention.

4*SPECIAL: HINDU KUSH: Put in a rally, hung late, and settled for third when back to dirt and cut back a bit in trip for her latest; sharper for experience.

LONGSHOT: JACKSONVILLE: Made her way to the pace only to weaken and settle for fourth of eight in ambitious stakes try most recently; respect mare’s early lick.

 

CHURCHILL DOWNS

SUMMER FLIRT: Raced wide from extreme outside post position in a field of 12 and rallied nicely to be second when moved to turf following sixth-place debut; daughter of Bernardini is kin to Honey Ryder and bred to excel.

NANDIRA: Showed some needed improvement when fourth of 11 at KEE in her latest; daughter of Speightstown has shown flashes, but may benefit from a move to easier circuit, so follow entries everywhere.

SMART PENNY: Had some early trouble and mounted a rally to finish a narrowly beaten fourth on synthetic ground at KEE in her first start since September; could try turf here, or perhaps turf/synthetic at WO.

DISTORTED ALICE: Tried the 1 ½-mile Bewitch Stakes for her first career turf attempt on the heels of a maiden win on synthetic ground at KEE, and finished seventh of eight only beaten seven lengths; could have upside.

LADY CHESTERFIELD: Rallied through traffic to finish second, beaten a neck, in her latest on synthetic, and has now tried three different surfaces in as many starts since back from break; has the ability.

AT THE PULPIT: Jumped back to MSW level off claim/brief respite by trainer M. Lovell, and managed a close fifth at big price; 3YO gelded son of Pulpit can continue to progress.

STATELY VICTOR: Winless in quite a while, and although beaten at odds-on in his latest, he overcame a brutally slow pace to rally and finish second beaten only a neck in first try since last-November; WO could be next.

DREAM NOW: Put in a wide bid to contend and weakened in the lane to finish fourth when beaten 11 lengths in his first start since December 2010; could prove interesting $5K-claim for trainer J. Fletcher.

BOURBON COURAGE: Caught sloppy ground when asked to tackle one mile trip at stakes level following a pair of facile sprint scores; fair fourth-place try proves worthy test and propels prospect forward.

4*SPECIAL: TYPHOON CHARLIE: Couldn’t overcome a slow break when fifth as the choice for his first start since January most recently; lightly raced 4YO gets involved from bell and runs big.

LONGSHOT: SIR MCINTYRE: Returned on relatively short notice for just his second start since last-October to meet winners for the first time in his latest and finished 10^th; can do more and surprise.