A field of eight 2-year-olds is set to square off in the 111th running of the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) that highlights the June 30 card at Churchill Downs.
With an original post time of 8:30 p.m. (EDT), the Bashford Manor will be contested at six furlongs on the main track as part of the final Saturday program of the spring meet. First post is 6:30 p.m. EDT.
Positively, a son of Distorted Humor trained by Pat Byrne for Chuck and Meribeth Sandford, broke his maiden with a driving 1 ¾-length triumph in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight test June 8 after finishing third in his career debut. The colt, who has earned $39,680, will break from post 7 under Calvin Borel, who has been aboard for both starts.
“It’ll be a tough race, but he’s on his game,” Byrne said after Positively posted a bullet work of three furlongs in :35 1/5 June 24. “We’re in good shape and he should like the extra distance.”
Positively is a half brother to Malibu Moon , among the leading sires in North America, and was purchased privately by the Sandfords for $200,000 after he failed to meet his reserve price at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Roman's Avenue, trained by Dale Romans for Jerry Crawford’s Donegal Racing, rolled to a 4 ¼-length victory in his only start as the 3-10 favorite on May 27. A son of Street Sense , Roman’s Avenue was a $230,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase after initially selling for $85,000 as a weanling at the 2010 Keeneland November sale. He will again have the services of Churchill Downs’ meet-leading jockey Corey Lanerie.
Special Jo, a six-length winner of his only start to date, drew the 5 post and will be ridden by Shane Sellers for trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Mike McCarty. The Johannesburg colt, who negotiated the five furlongs in a quick :58.53 in his career debut, was a $40,000 Keeneland November sale weanling who was re-sold for $230,000 at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s select sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Leading earner in the Bashford Manor field is Good Tickled, a son of Flatter trained by Darrin Miller for Silverton Hill. Second in his first start in maiden special company at Keeneland April 26, the $41,800 earner zipped five furlongs in :57.89 to break his maiden at Churchill May 18. He is also a graduate of the 2011 Keeneland September sale, bringing a price of $105,000.
$100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III, Race 6, 9:00 p.m.), 2 YOs, 6 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Weight
1. Good Tickled (KY), S Bridgmohan, D Miller, 120
2. Circle Unbroken (FL), J Court, G Simms, 120
3. Go Jack Go (KY), R Prescott, R Martinez, 120
4. Praetorian Prefect (KY), D Sarvis, J Pucek, 118
5. Special Jo (KY), S Sellers, S Asmussen, 120
6. Roman’s Avenue (KY), C Lanerie, D Romans, 120
7. Positively (KY), C Borel, P Byrne, 120
8. Hightail (KY), R Vazquez, D Lukas, 118
Positively broke his maiden by 1 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs on June 8.
