Twenty Carat Possible for Oaks Day Action at Churchill
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Twenty Carat returns from her Beaumont Stakes victory at Keeneland
Three Chimneys Farm's homebred Twenty Carat could be among Keeneland's opening day runners bound for Derby Weekend race assignments after scoring in her stakes debut April 2 at the Lexington oval.
Trainer Wesley Ward said the Beaumont Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3) winner could run April 30 at Churchill Downs in either the Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Smithfield (G2) or the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).
"We will see if there are any defections from the Oaks," said Ward.
Twenty Carat would have to be nominated for $1,500 by April 10 to be eligible for the Kentucky Oaks. Her Beaumont victory awarded her 10 quality Oaks points, provided she is nominated.
The Eight Belles, like the Beaumont, is a seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, while the Kentucky Oaks is nine furlongs.
Friday Ward also finished 1-2 in the Palisades Turf Sprint Stakes with Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Chasing Artie and Lindy Farms and Ice Wine Stable's Fauci , respectively.
"They all came back well," said Ward of his opening day runners. He said there are no immediate plans for Chasing Artie or Fauci.
Trainer Kelly Breen said Beaumont runner-up Slumber Party , owned by Gary and Mary West, came out of the race fine and would remain at Keeneland for the time being with her next start to be determined.
Stuart Janney III's homebred Scarlett Sky exited his Friday victory in the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) in good order, according to Lindsay Schultz, assistant to trainer Shug McGaughey.
"He is super this morning," Schultz said. "He ate up everything last night."
Plans are to be determined for Scarlett Sky, with one possibility being the May 1 American Turf Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs.
That race is on the agenda for John Oxley's Palazzi and Three Diamonds Farm's Fire At Will , the respective second- and third-place finishers in the Transylvania.
Trainer Mark Casse confirmed Saturday morning that Palazzi would point to the American Turf following his runner-up effort in his graded stakes debut. Palazzi returned to Churchill Friday night to rejoin Casse's main string in Louisville.
Following the Transylvania, trainer Mike Maker indicated the American Turf also might be next for Fire At Will, winner of last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1T). Fire At Will returned to Maker's main base at Churchill Downs Trackside in Louisville April 3.