Commonwealth Turf Cup Study Guide

Nov 07, 2019 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

What horses are running in the Commonwealth Turf Stakes?

An overflow field of 16 sophomores, two of which are on the also-eligibles list, will contest the $175,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The 1 1/16 miles turf test lacks an obvious favorite in what is a fine betting opportunity.

Here is the Commonwealth Turf cast:

TOBACCO ROAD

• Tobacco Road Career Racing Stats
  • 14 Starts
  • 2 Wins
  • 2 Place
  • 1 Show

Total Career Earnings: $124,316

Owner: 47 Roses, LLC
Breeder: Flaxman Holdings, Ltd. and Airlie Stud
Trainer: John Ennis
Jockey: Alex Achard
Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Isobel Baillie
Color: Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (87) in 2018 Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes tally

This colt was claimed two back but failed to impress on the barn change when unplaced in a Keeneland allowance event. The Kentucky-bred has never won on the turf and will need a lifetime best to be competitive in this spot.

OSAGE MOON

• Osage Moon Career Racing Stats
  • 8 Starts
  • 2 Wins
  • 1 Place
  • 1 Show

Total Career Earnings: $80,094

Owner: John Oxley and Tracy Farmer
Breeder: My Meadowview, LLC
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Miguel Mena
Sire: Malibu Moon
Dam: Oatsee
Color: Chestnut

Top BRIS Speed rating (84) in recent allowance victory at Woodbine

Well-bred sophomore comes in off of a pair of wire-to-wire tallies on the green at Woodbine for Mark Casse. The son of Malibu Moon is trending in the right direction, and another forward move third time off the layoff will make the chestnut competitive in his stakes debut.

CLINT MAROON

• Clint Maroon Career Racing Stats
  • 10 Starts
  • 3 Wins
  • 0 Place
  • 2 Show

Total Career Earnings: $159,240

Owner: Evelyn and Darrell Yates et al
Breeder: Sahara Group
Trainer: Wayne Catalano
Jockey: Channing Hill
Sire: Oasis Dream
Dam: Lady Aquitaine
Color: Gray

Top BRIS Speed rating (96) when fourth in Jefferson Cup Stakes

This talented stakes winner ran evenly when a decent fourth in the Jefferson Cup Stakes on the course last time out. Wayne Catalano trainee shows two solid morning drills in the interim, and the stalker will have Channing Hill in the silks. The gray will be in the mix late with a top performance.

PIRATE’S PUNCH

• Pirate’s Punch Career Racing Stats
  • 9 Starts
  • 2 Wins
  • 1 Place
  • 2 Show

Total Career Earnings: $85,751

Owner: Gulliver Racing, LLC et al
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, LLC
Trainer: Grant Forster
Jockey: Robby Albarado
Sire: Shanghai Bobby
Dam: Catch the Moon
Color: Dark Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (94) in recent allowance second at Keeneland

Gelded son of Shanghai Bobby brings very good dirt form to the field in advance of his grassy bow. The dark bay has improved his BRIS Speed figure in four straight races, and the Kentucky-bred has the early presence to be in the running from the start on Saturday. Robby Albarado retains the mount.

MARQUEE PRINCE

• Marquee Prince Career Racing Stats
  • 10 Starts
  • 5 Wins
  • 0 Place
  • 0 Show

Total Career Earnings: $180,076

Owner: Rick Donna and Jeff Awtrey
Breeder: Brereton Jones
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Sire: Cairo Prince
Dam: Try To Remember
Color: Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (88) in Black Gold Stakes triumph and Cutler Bay Stakes fourth

The Brad Cox pupil is a stakes winner on turf and had a good prep for this when defeating allowance foes at Indiana Grand off the bench. The bay colt was a 12-length allowance winner on this lawn in 2018, and he could benefit most if there is give in the ground on Saturday. Tyler Gaffalione inherits the mount.

SPECTACULAR GEM

• Spectacular Gem Career Racing Stats
  • 11 Starts
  • 3 Wins
  • 1 Place
  • 3 Show

Total Career Earnings: $161,920

Owner: Candie A Baker
Breeder: Ledgelands, LLC and Andrew Ritter
Trainer: James Baker
Jockey: James Graham
Sire: Can the Man
Dam: Blackhawk Honey
Color: Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (100) in Jefferson Cup Stakes win

Jefferson Cup Stakes upsetter led from gate-to-wire fashion in his local debut most recently and will aim to do the same today. This bay colt is two-for-four lifetime on the green, but he may have to rally from off the pace today in a field with ample speed in the fold. James Graham stays in the silks atop the contender.

TRACKSMITH

• Tracksmith Career Racing Stats
  • 8 Starts
  • 3 Wins
  • 2 Place
  • 0 Show

Total Career Earnings: $243,533

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Cobalt Investments, LLC and Godolphin
Trainer: Joe Sharp
Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr. 
Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Hot Water
Color: Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (98) in Jefferson Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs

This consistently good stakes victor was a smart second in the Jefferson Cup Stakes last time and looms large with improvement in this offering. The Kentucky-bred colt always fires, and he figures to get a great set up with the abundance of early speed in the field. Brian Hernandez Jr. will guide the win threat for the initial time.

TIZ PLUS

• Tiz Plus Career Racing Stats
  • 11 Starts
  • 6 Wins
  • 0 Place
  • 1 Show

Total Career Earnings: $124,294

Owner: Bronte Marshall
Breeder: Paul Knapper
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Sire: Tizway
Dam: A Plus
Color: Dark Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (93) when fifth in Remington Green Stakes

This five-time turf winner makes his first run for Steve Asmussen on the barn change in here. The Tizway colt has won five of his last six races in total, and the colt could be any kind in a first run beneath the Twin Spires. The sophomore will be tracking the pace from the opening stages.

KNICKS GO

• Knicks Go Career Racing Stats
  • 13 Starts
  • 2 Wins
  • 3 Place
  • 1 Show

Total Career Earnings: $738,805

Owner: KRA Stud Farm
Breeder: Angie Moore
Trainer: Ben Colebrook
Jockey: Gabe Saez
Sire: Paynter
Dam: Kosmo’s Buddy
Color: Gray

Top BRIS Speed rating (100) when second in 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)

Grade 1 victor is winless since his juvenile campaign for Ben Colebrook. The Paynter colt makes his first attempt at turf racing and adds more early pace to the field. Knicks Go signaled his readiness for the contest with a bullet morning drill most recently.

ARMISTICE DAY

• Armistice Day Career Racing Stats
  • 8 Starts
  • 2 Wins
  • 2 Place
  • 0 Show

Total Career Earnings: $124,959

Owner: Bruce Lunsford and Lansdon Robbins
Breeder: Glenvale Stud
Trainer: Barbara Minshall
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Sire: Declaration of War
Dam: Harmony Lodge
Color: Chestnut

Top BRIS Speed rating (95) when runner-up in Ontario Derby (G3) at Woodbine

Improving son of Declaration of War is a stakes winner on the lawn and has never been better leading up to this test. The gelding ran an even race in a lone prior try at Churchill Downs, and he could fire a big one making the move from the All Weather to the green under Corey Lanerie.

MR DUMAS

• Mr Dumas Career Racing Stats
  • 5 Starts
  • 2 Wins
  • 0 Place
  • 3 Show

Total Career Earnings: $109,170

Owner: Hooties Racing, LLC and WSS Racing, LLC
Breeder: Ramspring Farm
Trainer: John Ortiz
Jockey: Joe Rocco, Jr.
Sire: Majesticperfection
Dam: Ready Love
Color: Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (90) in allowance score at Churchill Downs last time out

This bay colt has improved since moving to the lawn two back, which includes a going-away allowance tally on the course most recently. Kentucky-bred colt is capable of running from on or off of the pace, and he draws in a good spot to endure a fine voyage on Saturday. The win contender will have Joe Rocco Jr. in the controls.

LOUDER THAN BOMBS

• Louder Than Bombs Career Racing Stats
  • 13 Starts
  • 3 Wins
  • 1 Place
  • 2 Show

Total Career Earnings: $175,380

Owner: Sandra New
Breeder: Hidden Brook Farm and Spruce Lane Farm
Trainer: David Fawkes
Jockey: Joe Rocco, Jr.
Sire: Violence
Dam: Orabella
Color: Chestnut

Top BRIS Speed rating (91) in allowance victory at Keeneland

Chestnut son of Violence upset an allowance cast at Keeneland last time out when leading throughout for David Fawkes. The multiple stakes placed gelding is unplaced from a pair of tries on this turf, and he will need a forward move to contend in the huge field.

FARAWAY KITTEN

• Faraway Kitten Career Racing Stats
  • 12 Starts
  • 5 Wins
  • 0 Place
  • 3 Show

Total Career Earnings: $341,321

Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Breeder: Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Sire: Kitten’s Joy
Dam: Far Isle
Color: Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (98) when third in Jefferson Cup Stakes

Grade 3 star finished a solid third in the Jefferson Cup Stakes on the course in preparation of the Commonwealth. The accomplished Kentucky-bred has won or placed in each of his three local races, and the late runner has a big chance if the pace is fast and contested in this spot. Julien Leparoux will ride.

JOURNEYMAN

• Journeyman Career Racing Stats
  • 8 Starts
  • 2 Wins
  • 4 Place
  • 1 Show

Total Career Earnings: $102,100
Owner: Godolphin, LLC
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Eoin Harty
Jockey: Declan Cannon
Sire: Animal Kingdom
Dam: Tout Charmant
Color: Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (97) in Canadian Derby (G3) second

Animal Kingdom gelding has been consistent to this stage of his development. The well-bred gelding finished smartly in the lucrative Grueling Downs Derby most recently, and the bay comes in fresh for a good layoff outfit. The Kentucky-bred has a chance if he is able to overcome the widest post slot beneath Declan Cannon.

PROLIFERATE

• Proliferate Career Racing Stats
  • 4 Starts
  • 2 Wins
  • 1 Place
  • 0 Show

Total Career Earnings: $77,238

Owner: Gabe Grossberg
Breeder: Gabe Grossberg
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Chris Landeros
Sire: Declaration of War
Dam: Rich City Girl
Color: Dark Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (85) in allowance second at Gulfstream Park

This Mark Casse pupil is a neck shy of being unbeaten from three career tries on the turf. The dark bay colt was impressive when dominating his elders at Keeneland most recently, and he would be an interesting off-the-pace contender if he draws into the field.

CLEAR VISION

• Clear Vision Career Racing Stats
  • 3 Starts
  • 1 Wins
  • 0 Place
  • 1 Show

Total Career Earnings: $37,935
Owner: Cheyenne Stables, LLC
Breeder: Candy Meadows, LLC
Trainer: Jeremiah O’Dwyer
Jockey: Declan Cannon
Sire: Artie Schiller
Dam: Refreshing
Color: Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (90) in Kentucky Downs allowance tilt

Lightly raced son of Artie Schiller has posted three strong turf results from as many races to begin his career. The bay colt was a stakes third at Parx last time out when registering a healthy 106 BRIS Late Pace figure, and he also shows a bullet morning drill in advance of today.