Hernandez Subs On Tracksmith in Commonwealth Turf

Although Tracksmith is absent his usual rider, Adam Beschizza, in the $175,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3T) Nov. 9 at Churchill Downs, the colt is not absent a winning chance.

With jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. subbing for Beschizza, who is expected to be sidelined until the Nov. 28 start of the Fair Grounds meet with a broken collarbone after he was unseated last month at Keeneland, the Joe Sharp trainee rates as a contender after a second in the Sept. 28 Jefferson Cup Stakes at Churchill. To win, he'll have to turn the tables on frontrunning Spectacular Gem and repel Faraway Kitten and Clint Maroon, other returnees who were a close third and fourth, respectively, in that race.

It is a task made more difficult by the presence of numerous up-and-comers in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old grass horses. Fourteen horses are entered, with another pair waiting on standby as also-eligibles.

Tracksmith's consistency—he has run first or second in five of seven turf starts—and Sharp's record when he periodically teams with Hernandez points to a rewarding effort. Though Beschizza is the regular rider for Sharp's stable, it was Hernandez who teamed with the trainer in 2017 to win the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) aboard eventual $1.7 million earner Girvin .

Pace seems the key element for Tracksmith. A horse who typically rallies from the middle or rear of the field, he is most effective when legitimate fractions are set down in front of him.

With a full field signed on for the Commonwealth Turf—including speedy dirt-to-turf runners Pirate's Punch, a half brother to Girvin who was third in the Super Derby (G3) on dirt, and Knicks Go—he may get his desired trip.

"With his running style, the numbers are actually in your favor," Sharp said. "It's one of those deals. Sometimes the hardest races to win with horses that are pace-dependent are in those short fields."

A son of Street Sense  bred in Kentucky by Cobalt Investments and Godolphin, Tracksmith has won three of eight races and $243,533 for owner Calumet Farm. Among those was the July 27 Frisk Me Now Stakes at Monmouth Park, along with a June 27 allowance at Churchill on the turf. The latter race came at Saturday's distance.

Even with the potential for company up front, Candie Baker's Spectacular Gem, wire-to-wire winner of the Jefferson Cup Stakes, is a threat. The son of Can the Man  is 2-1-0 from four grass starts, a record that would stand even better had he not been disqualified from first and placed fourth for interference in the Sept. 4 Caesars Stakes at Indiana Grand.

"He doesn't need to have the lead but will likely be close to the front," trainer Jimmy Baker said. "If you look at his maiden win last year, he closed from well off the pace. I do think there is some other speed signed on in this race, but he's training really well from his win in the Jefferson Cup."

Other prominent players in the Commonwealth Turf include Marquee Prince, a winner of half of his six grass races; Armistice Day, second on synthetic in the Ontario Derby (G3); and Tiz Plus, a newcomer to Kentucky after winning five of his past six races, mostly at Lone Star Park and Remington Park.

Video: Race 6 (ALW) at RP on 10/12/19

Brad Cox, trainer of Marquee Prince, and Steve Asmussen, trainer of Tiz Plus, are two-time winners of this race. Cox won it with Almasty (2015) and Mr. Misunderstood (2017), and Asmussen connected with Inca King (2007) and Hot Springs (2018).

Post time for the Commonwealth Turf, the 10th on an 11-race card, is 5:36 p.m. ET. Dry weather is forecast Saturday with a high temperature in the upper 40s.

Entries: Commonwealth Turf S. (G3T)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, November 09, 2019, Race 10

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $175,000
• 3 yo
• 5:36 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Tobacco Road (KY)	Alex Achard	118	John Ennis	50/1
2	2Osage Moon (KY)	Miguel Mena	118	Mark E. Casse	12/1
3	3Clint Maroon (GB)	Channing Hill	120	Wayne M. Catalano	10/1
4	4Pirate's Punch (KY)	Robby Albarado	118	Grant T. Forster	20/1
5	5Marquee Prince (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	120	Brad H. Cox	8/1
6	6Spectacular Gem (KY)	James Graham	120	James E. Baker	6/1
7	7Tracksmith (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	120	Joe Sharp	5/1
8	8Tiz Plus (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Steven M. Asmussen	15/1
9	9Knicks Go (MD)	Gabriel Saez	118	Ben Colebrook	12/1
10	10Armistice Day (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	120	Barbara J. Minshall	6/1
11	11Mr Dumas (KY)	Joseph Rocco, Jr.	118	John Alexander Ortiz	6/1
12	12Louder Than Bombs (KY)	Alex L. Canchari	118	David Fawkes	8/1
13	13Faraway Kitten (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	123	Michael J. Maker	6/1
14	14Journeyman (KY)	Declan Cannon	118	Eoin G. Harty	20/1
15	15Proliferate (KY)	Chris Landeros	118	Mark E. Casse	15/1
16	16Clear Vision (KY)	Declan Cannon	118	Jeremiah O'Dwyer	8/1