SPIRAL HEADLINES BIG DAY AT TURFWAY

SPIRAL HEADLINES BIG DAY AT TURFWAY

A large and well matched field will converge on Turfway Park this Saturday in the weekend feature, the $500,000 Spiral S. (G3). This key Derby prep often produces some fine three-year-old runners, and was boosted last year when winner Animal Kingdom went on to take the Run for the Roses six weeks later. Team Valor will take another shot at this race with a pair of likely entrants, including recent maiden winner Went the Day Well. This son of Proud Citizen was a sharp maiden winner at Gulfstream last time and has run well on synthetic in Europe prior to coming over.

Grade 2 grass winner State of Play will probably relish the chance to get off dirt and looms a chance today. The son of War Front tired after leading in the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) last time but has a lot of talent and would be no surprise here for Motion. The multiple stakes placed Ill Conceived has flashed good ability for conditioner John Servis and could be a dangerous longshot in this one. Heavy Breathing has looked very good in both career tries and is bred to thrive on this oval for conditioner Todd Pletcher. El Camino Real Derby (G3) third Handsome Mike, multiple local stakes winner Mr. Prankster and the impressive Exothermic are among the top draws for this fine event.

Also on Saturday at Turfway are a trio of stakes races, led by the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) for sophomore fillies. Busher S. heroine Sweet Seventeen, the Todd Pletcher trained In Lingerie, a fine debut winner on this oval a few back, Lotta Lovin, a three-time stakes winner on this strip and the dual stakes-placed Sweetnessandgoodness, are among the top contenders for this graded event.

The $75,000 Rushaway S. and the $50,000 Hansel S. comprise the other two black-type races on this signature day of the meeting.