Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's Inca King will look to make it five-for-seven on the grass, as the 3-year-old son of Sir Cat carries top weight of 123 pounds for the $150,000 Commonwealth Turf Nov. 11 at Churchill Downs.
It will be the fourth running of the Commonwealth, which is for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. A field of nine is entered.
Inca King began his career racing on the main track, but after going winless in his first six starts, then-trainer Eduardo Caramori switched the dark bay gelding to the grass. It was a wise move, as Inca King has won four of his first six starts on the turf, including the $200,000 Jefferson Cup (gr. IIT) at Churchill in June.
Trainer Steve Asmussen picked up Inca King when Heiligbrodt Racing purchased him privately in May from Linda Roach and her son, Fletcher Mauk.Most recently, Inca King scored by 3 3/4 lengths at Keeneland in the Oct. 14 Bryan Station, defeating Distorted Reality, who also is entered in the Commonwealth.
Out of the Prized mare Inca Prize, Inca King was bred in Kentucky by Dr. Ben Roach and Parrish Hill Farm. He was purchased for just $8,500 at the Keeneland September yearling sale and has earned more than $300,000. Shaun Bridgmohan will ride from post eight.
Centaur Farms’ Disorted Reality has won three times in 2007 and has been off the board only twice in nine starts this campaign. The son of Distorted Humor last won July 8 in the Lexington Stakes at Belmont. He will leave from outside post nine with Rafael Bejarano aboard.
Another capable rival is Voy Por Uno Mas, a chestnut gelding by Mazel Trick. Owned and trained by Moises Yanez, Voy Por Uno Mas will likely be on the front end, just as he was Sept. 9 when he wired the field in the Honor Grade Stakes at Arlington Park. Most recently, he faded in the stretch and finished fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Hawthorne Derby (gr. IIIT) Oct. 13 after leading in the stretch.
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) starter Sedgefield also returns to the turf, where the 3-year-old son of Smart Strike began his career. Before finishing fifth in the Derby, Silverton Hill’s Sedgefield ran exclusively on the turf and synthetic surfaces, winning twice in eight tries.
Since the Derby, Sedgefield, a full brother to English Channel, has started just once. He was well-beaten in the Indiana Derby (gr. II) at Hoosier Park Oct. 6.
Other Commonwealth starters are Lone Star Derby (gr. II) winner Slew’s Tizzy, Equitable, Elite Squadron, Warn, and Prom Shoes.
$150,000 Commonwealth Turf (Race 9, 4:37 p.m.), Three-Year-Olds, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Equitable, 119, Kent J. Desormeaux
2. Slew's Tizzy, 119, Robby Albarado
3. Elite Squadron, 117, Calvin H. Borel
4. Warn, 117, Jamie Theriot
5. Sedgefield, 117, Julien R. Leparoux
6. Voy Por Uno Mas, 121, Jesus Lopez Castanon
7. Prom Shoes, 117, Rene R. Douglas
8. Inca King, 123, Shaun Bridgmohan
9. Distorted Reality, 121, Rafael Bejarano
