Amerman Racing's Chattahoochee War, winner of the recent Transylvania (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland, and the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Dubleo and Guilliame Tell top a field of nine 3-year-olds entered in the Crown Royal American Turf (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs Friday.Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's Kitten's Joy won last year's renewal of the 1 1/16-mile grass test and went on earn an Eclipse Award as America's turf champion.
Chattahoochee War, a son of Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) winner War Chant trained by Bobby Frankel, notched his third win in five races with a last gasp victory over Crown Royal American Turf rivals Guillaume Tell and Rey de Café in the Transylvania. He also won the Hill Rise at Santa Anita and will be ridden on Friday by Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey.
Team Valor's Guillaume Tell is still looking for his first victory since moving to the U.S. from France, but will have Corey Nakatani in the saddle in Friday's race. His Pletcher-trained stablemate Dubleo brings a record of 7-1-1 in 11 races into the Crown Royal, with five of those wins coming in seven races on the grass. Those victories include the Generous (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park and the Dave Feldman at Gulfstream. John Velazquez will ride.
Rush Bay, a son of Cozzene, makes his turf debut for trainer Tom Amoss. The runner-up to Kentucky Derby (gr. I) contender Greater Good in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs, the colt is a three-quarter brother to turf star Chorwon, who won three consecutive runnings of the Louisville Handicap over Churchill Downs' Matt Winn Turf Course.
$100,000-added Crown Royal American Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT), 4:47 pm.), 3-year-olds, 1 1/6 miles (turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Guillaume Tell (IRE), Corey Nakatani, 116, 7/2
2. Dubleo (KY), John Velazquez, 122, 5/2
3. Exceptional Ride (KY), Brice Blanc, 122, 15/1
4. Rey de Cafe (KY), Javier Castellano, 122, 4/1
5. Rush Bay (KY), Robby Albarado, 116, 15/1
6. Classic Campaign (KY), Cornelio Velasquez, 116, 6/1
7. Pirates Bite (KY), John McKee, 116, 3/1
8. Chattahoochee War (KY), Jerry Bailey, 122, 3/1
9. Moth Ball (GB), Mike Smith, 122, 20/1