The Allen Paulson Living Trust's Azeri, the 2002 "Horse of the Year" and champion older filly or mare in 2003, has been assigned high weight of 125 pounds for an expected start in Saturday's $250,000-added Humana Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. Racing secretary Doug Bredar announced weight assignments for the seven-furlong race and two other major Kentucky Derby Week handicap races. The other races are the $300,000-added Louisville Breeders' Cup (gr. II) and the $250,000-added Churchill Downs Handicap (gr. II). Azeri, a daughter of Jade Hunter trained by D. Wayne Lukas, won the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park in spectacular fashion in her last start. She is now training at Churchill Downs and is scheduled to compete in the Derby Day race, one of three grade I events on the Derby Day program. Other possible starters (with weight assignments) include Randaroo (121), Harmony Lodge (119), Bear Fan (116), Mayo On the Side (114), and Keiai Sakura (110). Mayo On the Side was made a supplemental nominee to the Humana Distaff for a fee of 5% of the $250,000 purse ($12,500). Azeri was assigned the same impost for the 19th running of the Louisville Breeders' Cup, which will be run on Kentucky Oaks Day Friday. The starting high weight is expected to be Juddmonte Farm's Sightseek, a 5-year-old daughter of Distant View who scored her first grade I victory in last year's Humana Distaff. The Bobby Frankel-trained Sightseek was assigned 122 pounds for the 1 1/16-mile race. Other likely starters include Lead Story (116), Yell (114), Pocus Hocus (114), and La Reason (111). Possible starters include Angela's Love (111), My Ro (110) and Pesci (111). Stonerside Stable's five-time grade I winner Congaree, third in the 2001 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), has been assigned high weight of 123 pounds for the Churchill Downs Handicap, a seven-furlong fixture on Kentucky Derby Day. The 6-year-old Congaree was scratched from a scheduled run in the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup (gr. II) after he suffered a bout with colic, but has returned to serious training.
The Bob Baffert-trained son of Arazi is expected to face a group of rivals that includes: McCann's Mojave (117), Publication (116), Coach Jimi Lee (115), Speightstown (115), Scrimshaw (113), Key Deputy (112), Smile N Wildcat (112) and Terrell (110). Private Horde (117) is listed as "possible" for the race.
