Prussian will face eight rivals April 4 when he makes his 2008 debut in the $150,000 Central Bank Transylvania Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds, the opening day feature of the 16-day spring meet at Keeneland.
The Transylvania will go as race nine on the 10-race card. First post time is 1:15 p.m. EDT.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Prussian has not started since finishing 10th in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last October at Monmouth Park. A son of Danzig out of the Alleged mare Crystal Downs, Prussian brings a record of 3-2-0-0 and earnings of $183,360 into the 1 1/16-mile race.
Kent Desormeaux, who has ridden Prussian in all of his starts for owner/breeder Monticule, has the call in the Transylvania. Prussian will break from post position four. Prussian will carry top weight of 123 pounds and concede six pounds to each of his rivals.
The only other stakes winner in the field is Godolphin Racing’s Barrier Reef, winner of the Whirlaway Stakes on the inner dirt track at Aqueduct in his most recent start Feb. 2. Garrett Gomez will ride Barrier Reef from post position three.
The field for the Central Bank Transylvania, from the hedge out, is as follows:
1--Riley Tucker (Edgar Prado, 117)
2--Boss Lafitte (Robby Albarado, 117)
3--Barrier Reef (Garrett Gomez, 117)
4--Prussian (Kent Desormeaux, 123)
5--Sr. Henry (Julien Leparoux, 117)
6--Budge Man (James Lopez, 117)
7--Love Everybody (James Graham, 117)
8--Free Fighter (John Velazquez, 117)
9--Groom’s Cat (Jesus Castanon, 117)