Riskaverse, making her second start following a seven-moth layoff, figures to be the one to beat in Churchill Downs' $150,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (gr. IIIT) Saturday.
The 5-year-old
Dynaformer mare was a tiring fourth in her return to action in the June 5 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park, losing by 2 1/2 lengths to Intercontinental.
A field of seven will contest the 1 1/8-mile Locust Grove. Riskaverse, with Pat Day to ride, is the 7-5 morning line favorite
Trainer Patrick Kelly hopes Riskaverse returns to the form that allowed her win the Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIIT) in her only other Churchill Downs appearance in November. The victory, her seventh in 22 career starts, pushed her over the $1 million in career earnings. She has earned $1,012,734. Fox Ridge Farm owns Riskaverse.
Sand Springs, a game second to Stay Forever in the Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT) by a half-length at Churchill May 29, is looking for her first win in 2004 after four losing efforts. Sand Springs will carry top weight of 119 pounds.
Two other starters Saturday, Two Dot Slew and Shaconage, come out of the Mint Julep. Two Dot Slew was fourth in the after setting the pace. Shaconage finished fifth in the Mint Julep following a win in the Argent Mortgage Stakes (gr. IIIT) May 1.
$150,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (gr. IIIT), fillies & mares 3 & up, 1 1/8 miles on turfPP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Modena Bay (NZ), Cornelio H. Velasquez, 112, 8/1
2. Riskaverse (KY), Pat Day, 118, 7/5
3. Halory Leigh (KY), Tammy Lee Fox, 111, 15/1
4. Ocean Silk (KY), Craig Perret, 112, 8/1
5. Sand Springs (KY), Mark Guidry, 119, 5/2
6. Shaconage (KY), Brice Blanc, 116, 6/1
7. Two Dot Slew (KY), Rafael Bejarano, 113, 6/1
