Graded stakes experience may prove an advantage for Giocoso and Cavallo Bay when they race Oct. 6 against a deep field in the Bourbon Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland.
They enter the $350,000 stakes race for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf after both were third in grade 3s. Rocker O Ranch's Giocoso showed in the Sept. 14 Iroquois Stakes (G3) on dirt at Churchill Downs, while Godolphin's Cavallo Bay was third across the wire on grass in the Aug. 29 With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course.
Though both were outkicked down the stretch, none of those who defeated them in those stakes are back in Sunday's Bourbon. Jonathan's Way and Owen Almighty, who finished in front of Giocoso, are under consideration for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on dirt at Del Mar, and Zulu Kingdom and Tenacious Leader are other potential contenders for Breeders' Cup races. Zulu Kingdom was a follow-up winner of the Pilgrim Stakes (G2T), earning him a berth in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Del Mar, while Tenacious Leader will start in the Oct. 5 Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland on dirt.
The 2-year-old who wins the Bourbon will similarly earn a paid, automatic berth in the Juvenile Turf as Sunday's race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.
Though Giocoso made his last start on dirt in the Iroquois, his pedigree and past performances suggest he should run as well, if not better, on turf. A son of Not This Time , whose runners have flourished on multiple surfaces, including turf, he is out of the Irish-bred mare Nutcracker Suite.
This summer at Ellis Park, following a debut fifth sprinting on dirt at Churchill Downs, the Keith Desormeaux-trained Giocoso ran second in his first start on turf July 7 before graduating by 6 1/4 lengths Aug. 5.
His start in the Iroquois followed, and after being keen early and making a middle move, he checked in seven lengths behind front-running Jonathan's Way.
Jonathan’s Way is officially on the Road to the #KyDerby! 🌹 pic.twitter.com/F93eHF9kgf
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) September 14, 2024
Cavallo Bay, a Pinatubo colt racing for the second time in the United States for trainer Charlie Appleby, made three starts in Britain, winning twice, before losing the With Anticipation by 3 1/4 lengths.
Giocoso and Cavallao Bay are 9-2 and 6-1 odds, respectively, just behind Warlander (7-2) and Clock Tower (4-1), maiden winners during the recent Kentucky Downs meet.
Keeneland, Sunday, October 6, 2024, Race 10Entries: Castle & Key Bourbon S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Warheart (KY) Florent Geroux 118 Rodolphe Brisset 15/1 2 2Warlander (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 118 Steven M. Asmussen 7/2 3 3Siesta Key (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 120 Brad H. Cox 8/1 4 4Giocoso (KY) James Graham 118 J. Keith Desormeaux 9/2 5 5Minaret Station (KY) Cristian A. Torres 118 William Walden 15/1 6 6Cavallo Bay (GB) John R. Velazquez 118 Charles Appleby 6/1 7 7Barricade (KY) Jaime A. Torres 118 Todd A. Pletcher 12/1 8 8Golden Afternoon (KY) Luis Saez 118 Carlo Vaccarezza 15/1 9 9Papiamento (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 118 D. Whitworth Beckman 10/1 10 10Clock Tower (KY) Gerardo Corrales 118 Wesley A. Ward 4/1 11 11Baytown Baracus (KY) Antioco Murgia 118 Paul McEntee 50/1 12 12Reach for the Rose (KY) Paco Lopez 118 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 20/1 13 13Fleming (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 118 Brendan P. Walsh 8/1 14 14Poster (KY) Rafael Bejarano 118 Eoin G. Harty 15/1 15 15Coalmoon (KY) Luan Machado 118 Paulo H. Lobo 20/1
Governor Sam, Chasing Liberty Battle in Indian Summer
The Bourbon is one of two stakes races for juveniles on turf Sunday at Keeneland, the other being the $250,000 Indian Summer Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on grass.
Though the Indian Summer is not a "Win and You're In" like the Bourbon, the race sometimes propels its top finishers toward the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T). Like the Bourbon, it is also overdrawn beyond a capacity field size of 12 horses.
Trainer George Weaver, whose runners often excel in turf sprints, has a two-time stakes winner entered in Governor Sam, who, after a second-out maiden win July 19 at Saratoga, added the Aug. 3 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park and the Sept. 7 Rosie's Stakes at Colonial Downs.
The Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stables-owned Improbable colt is favored on the morning line at 3-1 odds over 4-1 Chasing Liberty, a son of Constitution who improved to 2-for-2 in taking the $872,500 Juvenile Sprint Stakes via disqualification Sept. 1 at Kentucky Downs for owner Twin Creeks Racing Stables and trainer Rob Atras.
Keeneland, Sunday, October 6, 2024, Race 8Entries: Indian Summer S. Presented by Keeneland Select
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Bad Gal Party (KY) Reylu Gutierrez 115 Rohan Crichton 30/1 2 2Chasing Liberty (KY) Florent Geroux 120 Rob Atras 4/1 3 3G W's Girl (FL) Jose L. Ortiz 115 Greg Compton 15/1 4 4Out On Bail (NY) Luis Saez 120 Michael J. Maker 8/1 5 5Dreamaway (KY) Walter A. Rodriguez 117 Wesley A. Ward 9/2 6 6Pharoah's Dynasty (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 118 Wesley A. Ward 6/1 7 7Governor Sam (KY) Paco Lopez 120 George Weaver 3/1 8 8Just Keep Looking (MD) Francisco Arrieta 118 McLean Robertson 30/1 9 9Raise the Bar (TX) John R. Velazquez 118 Steven M. Asmussen 15/1 10 10Moon Sniper (KY) Chris Landeros 118 Darrin Miller 20/1 11 11Jet Sweep Joe (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 118 Paul McEntee 10/1 12 12Floodlites (KY) Gerardo Corrales 118 Wesley A. Ward 20/1 13 13Fiddling Felix (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 118 D. Whitworth Beckman 15/1
