G3-Placed Giocoso, Cavallo Bay Lead Deep Bourbon Field

Graded stakes experience may prove an advantage for Giocoso and Cavallo Bay (GB) 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 (IRE) 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 (IRE). 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. Cavallo Bay, a Pinatubo (IRE) 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. 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.