Stark Contrast Returns to Grass in American Turf

After at most a passing thought about a run in the Kentucky Derby (G1) following his runner-up finish in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), the connections of Stark Contrast will instead keep the son of Caravaggio in his comfort zone with a start in the $1 million American Turf Stakes (G1T) May 2 at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/16-mile test has drawn 14 3-year-olds and Stark Contrast is the most accomplished of that group with two stakes wins, including a grade 3 score, as well as a grade 1 placing when he defeated all United States-based horses in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) when second to Gstaad (GB). Stark Contrast had secured a spot in the top 20 of the Road to the Kentucky Derby points list but rather than try the 1 1/4-mile classic, he'll stay on the turf, where he has landed all three of his wins to date. He earned those points from his second-place finish in the Jeff Ruby on the all-weather surface at Turfway Park. "We never really gave the (Kentucky) Derby any thought this year," said trainer Michael McCarthy, who was pleased with the Jeff Ruby effort. "I thought he ran a very good second that day to Fulleffort. He has come back and trained very, very well here." On Saturday Amerman Racing Stables' Stark Contrast will try to secure his initial grade 1 victory. He will pick up the services of two-time reigning Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat for the first time. "He's obviously come to hand here, but I'm not going to say he's exceeded expectations, because the expectations have been high for him," McCarthy said of the homebred out of the grade 2-placed Quality Road mare Catch the Eye. Stark Contrast's second dam, Turns My Head, is a half sister to 2014 American Turf winner Global View. Stark Contrast is one of three Southern California-based runners as McCarthy also will saddle longshot Let's Be Frank, who is still a maiden but grade 2-placed; and Bob Baffert will send out Greenwich Village, a son of Quality Road, off back-to-back stakes wins at Santa Anita Park in his first two starts on the grass. The only two runners entering the American Derby off of graded stakes wins in their previous races are C R K Stable's Remember Mamba and Repole Stable's Final Score, who will make his seasonal debut. Remember Mamba stayed undefeated in three starts, all on turf, when the son of Kitten's Joy rallied from eighth to capture the Transylvania Stakes (G3T) April 3 at Keeneland for trainer Cherie DeVaux. Final Score is undefeated in his three turf starts but will be racing for the first time since winning the Bourbon Stakes (G2T) in October at Keeneland. Also entered Saturday are the second-, third-, and fourth-place runners from the Transylvania in Honey Dutch, Vasy (IRE), and Street Beast, respectively.