McKinzie Returns to Churchill to Defend Alysheba Title
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Photo: Coady Photography
McKinzie arrives Aug. 31 at Churchill Downs
The triumvirate of victors that is McKinzie, jockey Mike Smith, and trainer Bob Baffert will return to Churchill Downs Sept. 4 as they attempt to win their second consecutive $400,000 Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet (G2).
A multiple graded stakes winner and earner of more than $3 million, Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman's McKinzie has shown little sign of slowing down at 5. The son of Street Sense has made three starts this season. He finished 11th in the inaugural Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack Feb. 29, then returned home in good form and bounced back to win the June 7 Triple Bend Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
Sent to the East Coast to contest the July 4 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park, McKinzie finished a credible fifth, running two lengths behind winner Vekoma.
Friday's return to Churchill Downs will be the first for McKinzie since winning last year's Alysheba. Partnered with Smith for the 1 1/16-mile test, he turned in an impressive performance around the Louisville track, leading at almost every point of call before pulling away to win by 4 3/4 lengths.
Smith and McKinzie will leave from post 2, just one slot outside the starting position from which they won the race in 2019.
Hoping to step into the winner's circle for the first time since February will be Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Mr Freeze. Trained by Dale Romans, the 5-year-old son of To Honor and Serve started 2020 on a relatively high note, finishing second in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) and first in the Feb. 29 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2).
Running at Oaklawn Park amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Freeze finished third in the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap (G2). He returned in the Met Mile and finished sixth behind McKinzie.
"I don't know why he didn't come out of there (more quickly)," Romans said of the Met Mile performance. "I asked the jock to ride him a little more aggressively. He still ran a mile in (1:33) and change. He's a fast horse. That's a tough race to win."
Back at Romans' home base in Louisville, Mr Freeze's last work before the Alysheba came Aug. 30. The chestnut worked five furlongs on the dirt in 1:00 1/5, the fifth-fastest of 47 at the distance. Manny Franco will partner from post 5.
Allied Racing Stables' By My Standards will look to take home his third grade 2 win of the season. A 4-year-old son of Goldencents , the Bret Calhoun-trained colt has not finished worse than second in five starts this season. His two graded wins came in the March 21 New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and the Oaklawn Handicap.
By My Standards has raced at Churchill Downs already this year. He ran second in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) June 27 behind Tom's d'Etat and then was second in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Gabriel Saez will have the call out of post 6.
Silver Dust, Owendale, Hence, Title Ready, and Bodexpress complete the field.
Churchill Downs, Friday, September 04, 2020, Race 10Entries: Alysheba S. presented by Sentient Jet (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Silver Dust (KY)
Adam Beschizza
120
W. Bret Calhoun
15/1
2
2McKinzie (KY)
Mike E. Smith
118
Bob Baffert
8/5
3
3Owendale (KY)
Florent Geroux
118
Brad H. Cox
6/1
4
4Hence (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
118
Jack Sisterson
50/1
5
5Mr Freeze (KY)
Manuel Franco
123
Dale L. Romans
6/1
6
6By My Standards (KY)
Gabriel Saez
123
W. Bret Calhoun
7/5
7
7Title Ready (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
118
Dallas Stewart
20/1
8
8Bodexpress (KY)
Javier Castellano
118
Gustavo Delgado
15/1
