Pace Favors Super Quercus in Keeneland Turf Mile

• Email
• Print
• Tweet

Super Quercus returns to the races for the first time since winning the 1999 Early Times Hollywood Derby Stakes (gr. IT) in Saturday's Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile (gr. IIT) on opening day at Keeneland. With a profusion of early speed horses entered in the one-mile turf race, the pace may set up well for the late charging 4-year-old son of Hero's Honor.

The Robert Frankel-trained Super Quercus has won four of eight career races, and if he performs well on Saturday, his next start could come in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT). The 3 Plus U Stable's French-bred has been training steadily in Southern California for his return.

Others who could benefit from a quick early pace are the Bill Mott-trained Garbu, Quiet Resolve, Altibr, who is usually a front-runner but closed well from far back in the Fourstardave Handicap (gr. IIT) in August, and Aly's Alley. The latter has set the early pace in his last three races, setting half-mile fractions of :50 4/5, :51 1/5, and :48 4/5 in the three races, all of which were 1 3/8 miles or longer. In the Keeneland Turf Mile, Aly's Alley will be ridden by Shane Sellers, who used stalking tactics when he last rode the 4-year-old colt at Churchill Downs in May.

The field for the Keeneland Turf Mile will consist of:

1--Quiet Resolve, Robby Albarado, 126, 5-1
2--Strategic Mission, James Lopez, 126, 10-1
3--Altibr, Richard Migliore, 126, 5-1
4--Medievil Hero, Jon Kenton Court, 126, 30-1
5--Garbu, Craig Perret, 126, 6-1
6--Buff, Calvin Borel, 126, 6-1
7--Pratella, Charles Woods Jr., 123, 12-1
8--Field Cat, Willie Martinez, 123, 12-1
9--Super Quercus, Alex Solis, 126, 2-1
10--Aly's Alley, Shane Sellers, 126, 10-1

• Email
• Print
• Tweet