Spice Runner Gets Top Billing in Bashford Manor Stakes

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ homebred #1 Spice Runner (5-2) will look to move his mark to two-for-two in Sunday’s $225,000 Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs. A total of seven juveniles will travel six furlongs on the dirt in the tilt, with five in the field coming off debut victories. 

Bashford Manor Wagers

• $30 win #1 Spice Runner ($30)
• $4 exacta key box 1 with 3,5 ($16)

Spice Runner, a son of Gun Runner who is a full-brother to two-time Grade 1 star Gunite, went postward at minuscule odds on May 23 and was a convincing, 2 1/4-length winner under pilot Jose Ortiz. The March foal has put in a trio of morning drills in the interim, and I find it to be interesting that the bay will be equipped with blinkers for the initial time following a solid triumph. Trained by Steve Asmussen, he will likely be asked for energy from the start, with Ortiz retaining the ride. 

#5 Comport (3-1) was professional in a 2 1/4-length score on the ground on June 1 for conditioner Eddie Kenneally. The $135,000 yearling purchase chased a clear leader, overtook that one in the lane, and finished with very good energy in his unveiling. Collected chestnut has a very good post to track the pace and endure a similar voyage on Sunday, and the April foal will be very dangerous with even minor improvement in this spot. Luis Saez will be in the stirrups. 

I liked how #3 Duke of Suggins (12-1) overcame a less-than-ideal trip to win in his first run for Al Stall, and I also feel that his swift half-mile drill as of late will have the colt set up well to grab a share in the dash. The bay son of young sire Tom’s d’Etat toppled what could have been a decent field on June 1, and while he has to get quicker to upset this group, he could be up to the task with a step forward in his second assignment. James Graham will once again guide the Kentucky-bred who will be doing his best work inside the final furlong of the dash.