A field of 11 is entered for the 6 ½ furlong event.
An Officer gelding, U.S. Cavalry began his career at Saratoga last August, finishing nearly 20 lengths back of the winner, Maimonides. Despite that performance, the Ramseys claimed him from Randall Bloch and partners.
It turned out to be a wise move. In his next effort on the Turfway Polytrack, U. S. Cavalry romped home by nine lengths in a maiden claiming event, then followed that up with a starter allowance victory on the Keeneland Polytrack in October.
“It was Mr. Ramsey’s pick, so I have to give him all the credit,” trainer Michael Maker said of the decision to claim U. S. Cavalry. “He obviously saw something he liked.”
After a poor effort in his Churchill Downs debut Nov. 10, U.S. Cavalry returned two weeks later, stalked the pace in a six-furlong event and picked up his second allowance triumph despite jockey Rene Douglas losing his whip in the stretch. He went off at odds of 22-1 in that one.
U.S. Cavalry is out of the Distorted Humor mare Humorous Wish. He was bred in Kentucky by Blackrock Bloodstock. Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride from post nine.
“The horse has good early speed and he tries hard,” Maker said. “If he runs well we’ll probably move him into the WEBN (Stakes) and if they allow us, we’ll point him towards the (Lane's End Stakes, gr. II).”
U.S. Cavalry could face competition from Sharon Valley Thoroughbred Farm’s Hot Chili, a Daylight Savings colt who picked up four wins in six starts as a 2-year-old racing against Michigan-breds. Racing out of Great Lakes Downs, Hot Chili won three stakes sprints there, all of them by hanging slightly off the pace.
Hot Chili has not been off the board in his six career starts. His latest effort was a third-place finish in the seven-furlong Michigan Futurity Oct. 30.
Also with a chance is James Kelly and Bobby Persad’s Mr. Harry, a Kentucky-bred colt who has won two in a row. Trained by Larry Demeritte, Mr. Harry broke his maiden in August, going a mile on the Arlington Park Polytrack in wire-to-wire fashion. This came after two poor starts to begin his career on dirt.
In his last out, Mr. Harry, by Flatter , scored his first allowance victory Dec. 15 on the Turfway Polytrack, winning by 2 ½ lengths despite being bumped at the start. Mr. Harry will be ridden by James Lopez and gets the benefit of breaking from the rail.
Spice House, Mr. Flamboyant, and Allsarott are a trio of challengers with a pair of wins in their careers.
$50,000 Turfway Prevue Stakes (Race 11, 5:45 p.m.), Three-Year-Olds, Six-and-Half Furlongs (Polytrack)
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Mr. Harry (KY), 118, James Lopez
2. Cape Hatteras (KY), 116, Orlando Mojica
3. Hot Chili (MI), 122, Luis J. Martinez, Jr.
4. Spice House (KY), 118, John McKee
5. Allsarott (OH), 118, Victor Lebron
6. Mr. Flamboyant (KY), 118, William D. Troilo
7. Gregory's Trick (FL), 116, Deshawn L. Parker
8. Gold Appeal (KY), 116, Dylan R. Williams
9. U. S. Cavalry (KY), 120, Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
10. Star's Classic Cat (KY), 116, Dean A. Sarvis
11. Chow Wagon (IN), 116, Rodney A. Prescott
