Competitive Field Set for Crown Royal

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One of the week's most competitive races could be Friday's Crown Royal American Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT). The $100,000, 1 1/16-mile event has lured a field of 10 sophomores to Churchill Downs.

Orchard Park brings his four-race win streak to Louisville after dominating his turf peers in Florida. Trainer Bill Mott has spaced the colt's races month, including a victory in the Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream.

Trainer Elliott Walden has Stage Call set for his second start of the season after disappointing as the 7-5 favorite in the Transylvania when finishing fourth. Las year, he smashed Keeneland's Hopemont Stakes field by 11 1/4 lengths in his first U.S. start.

Completing the Crown Royal Turf field: National Park (Kent Desormeaux); Orchard Park (Jerry Bailey); Legislator (Edgar Prado); Mystic Salse (Frankie Dettori); Stage Call (Pat Day); Wordly Victor (Mark Guidry); Celtic Hope (Frank Lovato, Jr.); No More Chads (Corey Nakatani); Classic Case (Chris McCarron); and Red Masque (Orlando Mojica).

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