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Loaded Turf Race Brings High-Class Maidens to Churchill

Races to Watch: Churchill Downs Race 5.

Find New Roads in the ring at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Find New Roads in the ring at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Keeneland Photo

On May 16, a dozen maidens will line up for race 5 at Churchill Downs, a one-mile turf test that includes a $950,000 horse and two half brothers to grade 1 turf stars, but while the race is high on pedigree it has no clear favorite. Several 3-year-olds that didn't show their best effort in their first starts could shine Sunday.

At morning-line odds of 15-1, Tom Durant's Find New Roads drew the rail. The Bret Calhoun trainee needs to show more after two off-the-board efforts at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots at the beginning of the year.

The Quality Road  colt out of the Storm Cat mare Storm Showers was a $950,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase. The colt's third dam is the grade1-placed Weekend Surprise, better known as the dam of super sire A.P. Indy and 1990 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Summer Squall.

In post 3, Amerman Racing's homebred Performing Arts looks for his first win in his fourth start. Trained by Brian Lynch, Performing Arts finished third in his Jan. 16 debut at Gulfstream Park, but returned to finish off the board in his next two starts at Gulfstream in February and at Keeneland at the beginning of April. He cuts back in distance after racing at 1 1/8-mile in his last start.

The Dansili ridgling is out of the Theatrical mare Devine Actress, making him a half brother to two graded stakes winners—multiple grade 1 winner Oscar Performance  and grade 1-placed Oscar Nominated. Performing Arts races with first-time Lasix.

In post 5, Flurry Racing and David Flannigan's Burrow makes his third start for trainer Brad Cox and his first of 2021. The Candy Ride  colt finished second as a 2-year-old during the Keeneland fall meet in October and returned a month later at Churchill Downs to finish fifth.

Burrow is a half brother to grade 1 winner Echo Town  and grade 3 winner J Boy's Echo.

Moving down the line, Louis Cella's Reserve is in post 6. The Tiznow colt trained by Ron Moquett makes his fourth start after finishing off the board in all three of his starts on dirt at Oaklawn Park from late February to early April. Two of those races came at six furlongs while the most recent was 1 1/16 miles.

The switch to turf may benefit Reserve, who is a half brother to Elsa, winner of the 2018 Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3T) on the turf at Del Mar.

To his right is Sumaya U.S. Stable's Beduin Fighter. The War Front  colt also went through the Keeneland September Sale but failed to meet his reserve on a final bid of $950,000.

Out of the unraced Mineshaft  mare Joyfully, Beduin Fighter has a pedigree loaded with top-level talent. His third dam, Pennant Champion, is a daughter of champion Personal Ensign, making her a full sister to grade 1 winners Miner's Mark, Traditionally, and Our Emblem, and a half sister to My Flag. His second dam, Rejoicing, produced successful turf runners Divine Oath and Auntie Joy.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Beduin Fighter has raced twice, finishing seventh March 20 at Fair Grounds, and fifth April 21 at Keeneland.

At program odds of 9-2, Prairie is in post 11. The Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider homebred is trained by Al Stall Jr. and is looking for his first win in his fifth start. The War Front  colt is the first foal out of the Pulpit mare Heath, a half sister to Claiborne sire Lea .

There are also three also-eligibles entered, one of them a main-track-only competitor.