JEFFERSON CUP WINNER MR. MISUNDERSTOOD TOPS FIELD IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III COMMONWEALTH TURF

By Darren Rogers —-

JEFFERSON CUP WINNER MR. MISUNDERSTOOD TOPS FIELD IN
SATURDAY’S GRADE III, $100,000 COMMONWEALTH TURF

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017) – Flurry Racing Stables’ Mr. Misunderstood will attempt to remain unbeaten on turf as he headlines a field of eight 3-year-olds in Saturday’s 14th running of the $100,000 Commonwealth Turf (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile turf event will go as Race 10 on Saturday’s 11-race program with a scheduled post time of 5:36 p.m. (all times Eastern). The first race is 1 p.m.

Trained by Brad Cox, Mr. Misunderstood was victorious by 2 ¾ lengths in the $100,000 Jefferson Cup on Sept. 30 at Churchill Downs as the 6-5 favorite. The 3-year-old gelded son of Archarcharch is perfect in six starts on the turf including his last three in ungraded stakes, and boasts an overall record of 11-7-1-0—$304,554. This summer, he also won the Prelude and Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

“He’s turned into a very nice horse on the turf,” assistant trainer Jorje Abrego said. “I breezed him the (Saturday) morning and he did everything easily (four furlongs in :47.60). I don’t know if he’s the type of horse to jump up into Grade Is yet but if we keep spotting him right he’ll pick up solid paydays.”

Mr. Misunderstood drew post 6 and jockey Florent Geroux has the return call to ride.

Chief among Mr. Misunderstood’s rivals is Jefferson Cup third-place finisher Giant Payday (13-3-4-2—$248,020), owned by Lothenbach Stables Inc. One of two entered in the Commonwealth Turf for trainer Ian Wilkes, the 3-year-old Giant’s Causeway colt prevailed two starts ago in Canterbury Park’s $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby. Wilkes’ son-in-law Chris Landeros has the call while Joe Rocco Jr. will ride stable mate Mr Cub (7-2-1-0—$133,807) following a fifth-place effort in the Jefferson Cup.

New to Kentucky is Chiefswood Stables’ Canada-based Tiz a Slam. The Roger Attfield-trainee was the 3 ¼-length winner in the $125,000 Ontario Derby (GIII) on Oct. 15 at Woodbine. A 3-year-old son of Tiznow, Tiz a Slam enters the Commonwealth Turf with a record of 11-4-2-0—$469,147, including a pair of victories on turf. Jockey Robby Albarado has the mount.

Upset Hawthorne Derby winner My Bariley (13-3-3-2—$159,119); American Derby (GIII) runner-up Gorgeous Kitten (11-2-3-1—$135,148); Dueling Grounds Derby second Parlor (10-3-2-1—$230,895); and Kentucky Downs maiden winner Sharm El Sheikh (9-1-1-2—$121,509) round out the field.

The Commonwealth Turf field from the rail out (with jockey): Sharm El Sheikh (Ricardo Santana Jr.); My Bariley (Fernando De La Cruz); Mr Cub (Rocco); Parlor (Julien Leparoux); Gorgeous Kitten (Corey Lanerie); Mr. Misunderstood (Geroux); Tiz a Slam (Albarado); and Giant Payday (Landeros).

Free Brisnet.com past performances for Saturday’s card and every racing program for Churchill Downs are available online at https://www.brisnet.com/product/past-performances/FPP.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs is currently conducting its live racing Fall Meet through Nov. 26. Churchill Downs will conduct the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 5, 2018, and will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the ninth time on Nov. 2-3, 2018. Information is available at www.ChurchillDowns.com.