ARKANSAS-BRED MAN IN THE CAN TARGETS BLUE GRASS FOLLOWING FRIDAY ALLOWANCE VICTORY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

By Kevin Kerstein —-

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sunday, June 14, 2020) – JRita Young Thoroughbreds’ four-time winner Man in the Can will take his next step on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the $600,000 Blue Grass (Grade II) on July 11 at Keeneland following his 1 ½-length allowance victory Friday at Churchill Downs.

“That sure was an impressive turn of foot,” trainer Ron Moquett said. “I wasn’t expecting him to go off as that big of a favorite but he ran against some stiff Arky-bred competition in his last couple of starts at Oaklawn. I think the bettors saw that before the race and that’s why he ended up going off favorite. He definitely deserves a shot in the Blue Grass. There have been so many top Kentucky Derby contenders that have gone off the trail this week that it’s really anyone’s game.”

The rescheduled Blue Grass will award the Top 4 finishers 100-40-20-10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Should Man in the Can qualify for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby (GI), he would become the first Arkansas-bred to run in the race since Barbizon Streak, who finished 16th in 1971.

Another improving 3-year-old who won an allowance event this week at Churchill Downs was Bruce Lunsford’s Art Collector. The 3-year-old son of Bernardini collected his third lifetime victory with a powerful 6 ½-length score on Saturday, only 34 one-hundredths of a second off the track record after he blitzed a final time of 1:41.35 for 1 1/16 miles.

“He’s certainly getting better at the right time,” trainer Tommy Drury said. “That is as impressive as it gets to kick clear as he did. I asked Bruce to let us enjoy this one for a couple of days and then we’d get together and talk about our next options.”

The next stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is Saturday’s $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI), which is expected to be headlined by Florida Derby (GI) winner Tiz the Law.

MULTIPLE GRADED STAKES WINNER FACTOR THIS FINALIZES PREP FOR $200,000 WISE DAN – Gaining Ground Racing’s multiple graded stakes winner Factor This finalized his preparation for Saturday’s $200,000 Wise Dan presented by Ford (Grade II) with a solid half-mile move in :48 Sunday morning over the Matt Winn Turf Course at Churchill Downs.

With his regular pilot Shaun Bridgmohan in the saddle, Factor This’ work was the fastest of 10 horses at the distance, which included six of his stablemates for trainer Brad Cox.

“Each time he works he seems to get better,” Bridgmohan said. “He looks like a more mature and filled-out horse this year than last.”

Among the other Cox horses to record turf works were multiple graded stakes winners Beau Recall (IRE) (:50), Juliet Foxtrot (GB) (:49.60) and Mr. Misunderstood (:48).

Entries for the Wise Dan, run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, will be taken Wednesday. The race will share the spotlight with the $100,000 Audubon presented by TwinSpires.com at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds. The following horses are probable entrants according to Churchill Downs assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork:

· Grade III, $200,000 Wise Dan (with trainer): Aquaphobia (Mike Maker), Casa Creed (Bill Mott), Get Western (Charlie LoPresti), Factor This (Cox), Just Howard (Graham Motion) and Parlor (Maker);

· $100,000 Audubon (with trainer): Field Pass (Maker), Hieronymus (Cox) and Street Ready (Ian Wilkes).

DOWN THE STRETCH – There was a $163,012 carryover in the Late Pick 5 on Sunday at Churchill Downs and an $87,417 carryover in the 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot. Both wagers offer a horseplayer-friendly 15-percent takeout. First post was 1 p.m. … Jockey Edgar Morales was off his mounts on Sunday as he recovers from a minor foot injury he suffered during training on Saturday. … Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was one win away from 5,000-career victories. He had three horses entered at Churchill Downs and one horse at Belmont. … Racing will continue Thursday with a first post of 1 p.m.

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