Arzak Seems to be Just like the “Horse for the Course” in Woodford

If there’s something to the previous “horse for the course” saying, Arzak  is the horse for the Woodford Stakes (G2T) Oct. 5 at Keeneland.

The 6-year-old son of Not This Time  , skilled by Michael Trombetta, is 2-for-2 over the Keeneland turf. Whereas that is not an enormous pattern, the 2 wins have been sufficiently big—the 2023 Woodford and the Shakertown (G2T) on the identical 5 1/2 furlongs on April 6.

Arzak then went on from the Woodford win to complete sixth, overwhelmed simply 2 lengths, within the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.

That file places to disgrace the opposite 11 in the primary area, who’re a mixed 3-for-25 on the native turf.

Arzak is one in all three within the Woodford area exiting the Sept. 2 Harvey Pack Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. He completed third in that, behind Massive Invasion  and Our Shot . The latter is also within the Woodford area. 

Half of the dozen come to Lexington from Turf Dash (G2T) at Kentucky Downs, the place they did not make an excessive amount of of an impression. Axthelm  completed third and Nobals , the reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash winner, received house fourth in that. Charcoal  was fifth, One Timer  sixth, Gear Jockey  seventh, and Coppola  eighth.

Wesley Ward is represented by No Nay Hudson . The 4-year-old No Nay By no means  gelding got here off a 10-month layoff to complete fifth in a Saratoga allowance warmth in July, then journeyed to Del Mar, the place he completed third, overwhelmed lower than 1 size, within the Inexperienced Flash Handicap (G3T).

Rusty Arnold saddles Gear Jockey, a 7-year-old total son of Twirling Sweet   who gained the 2023 Turf Dash earlier than ending eleventh of 12 within the Breeders’ Cup after a gradual begin.

As typical at Keeneland conferences, a number of of the entrants have been coaching outdoors Kentucky. Amongst them are Rivelli’s pair, stabled at Hawthorne Race Course; Arzak, in from the East Coast; and Charcoal, from Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Xy Pace  was a power a bit down the category ladder at Gulfstream Park earlier in 2024 however involves the Woodford off a fourth-place end within the Choose Stakes at Monmouth Park. The 8-year-old First Samurai   gelding seems to be so as to add some pace to a race with out an overabundance of it however will launch from the skin gate.

Three also-eligibles embody Hedwig , a Godolphin homebred colt by Maclean’s Music   who has three wins from six begins, all in turf sprints. He completed seventh in his most up-to-date race, the Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) at Kentucky Downs.