Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Owen Almighty eyes Iroquois with two turns on the horizon
Owen Almighty, to date the fastest 2-year-old in the Midwest this summer, will make his next start Sept. 14 at Churchill Downs in the $300,000 Iroquois Stakes.
The colt’s trainer, Brian Lynch, didn’t hesitate when asked Thursday what late summer and autumn holds for Owen Almighty.
“We’ll see what happens with more racing. Time will tell, but we’d be thrilled if he could get two turns,” Lynch said.
The Iroquois is a one-turn mile and makes great sense for Owen Almighty, who won his debut over 5 1/2 furlongs before capturing the seven-furlong Ellis Park Juvenile on Aug. 11. Owen Almighty romped in his stakes debut, drawing off to win by almost five lengths as a 3-5 favorite, bet down on the strength of a 3 1/2-length debut win at Churchill as well as subsequent training.
Owen Almighty got an 83 Beyer Speed Figure in his first start and equaled that number second time out.
Owen Almighty is by Speightstown and is the first foal to race out of the stakes-placed mare Tempers Rising, who finished fifth in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks and was a solid dirt-route runner.
“He’s a lovely horse to be around, got a lot of class, goes about his business like a professional,” said Lynch, who trains Owen Almighty for Boardshorts Stables. “It was encouraging to see him look good going under the wire the other day.”
Heavenly Sunday tops Turf
Heavenly Sunday actually has improved from her 3-year-old season of 2023 to her 4-year-old campaign, yet the filly is winless in three starts this year. That could change Monday at Ellis Park in the
$150,000 Ellis Park Turf, where Heavenly Sunday meets the softest group she’s yet encountered during 2024.
Eight others were entered in this 1 1/16-mile grass race, and three of them never have won on turf. Heavenly Sunday has lost six straight grass races since she went wire to wire in the 2023 Edgewood Stakes at Churchill, though she did land the Mrs. Revere last fall, a race originally scheduled for grass but moved to dirt.
Trained by Brad Cox, Heavenly Sunday twice in her three starts this year has raced over 1 1/8 miles, a touch farther than she really wants to run. Two races ago, in the Grade 3 Mint Julep at 1 1/16 miles, she finished second behind the good Chad Brown-trained horse Delahaye. Monday’s race, her first since June 30, clearly marks a step down in class.
Florent Geroux is named to ride Heavenly Sunday, who has been working with the Cox string in New York.
“We trained her up here at Saratoga to give her a little break,” Cox said.
Heavenly Sunday likes to lead or race close, as does Callie’s Grit, who is drawn outside Heavenly Sunday and might be more intent on the early lead. Callie’s Grit, making the second start of a summer form cycle, led from start to finish July 28 at Ellis in a turf allowance race.
Tarifa to Cotillion
Tarifa finished second at odds of 6-5 on Aug. 11 in the Audubon Oaks at Ellis. Her trainer, Brad Cox, doesn’t really care about the defeat. More important: Tarifa showed surprisingly effective tracking speed in a seven-furlong race that was too short for her. Better still,
Tarifa exited that start in great physical condition, Cox said. That’s an important note for a 3-year-old filly who came into the Kentucky Oaks looking like she could stand to gain some weight. Tarifa can be a tough keeper and trains hard.
“She’s really developed physically through the summer,” said Cox, who trains Tarifa for her breeder, Godolphin.
Tarifa played no part in the Oaks but won the Fair Grounds Oaks with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, which puts her on par with anyone in her division. And with that in mind, Cox said he’s pointing the filly toward the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion Stakes on Sept. 21 at Parx Racing.
With Dragoon Guard going to the Pennsylvania Derby, Cox said he isn’t yet sure what’s next for the 3-year-old colt Most Wanted. Three weeks after an allowance win over older horses, Most Wanted scored a narrow, if game, victory Aug. 11 in the $260,000 Ellis Park Derby. Most Wanted, a Gary and Mary West homebred by Candy Ride, ran his career mark to three wins from three starts while jumping up to a 96 Beyer.
“He ran back kind of quick, so I think it’s in his best interest to space his next race out a little bit,” Cox said. “He’s a good horse – a two-turn horse.”
Cox will have two live older horses, Saudi Crown and Hit Show, for rich Sept. 21 dirt starts at Churchill. Saudi Crown, who won the Cowboy Jones Stakes on Aug. 11, his first start since late March, is headed to the $400,000 Ack Ack Stakes, a oneturn mile that could lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Hit Show, coming off a win in the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes, where he got a careerbest 97 Beyer, will start in the $500,000 Lukas Classic.