Seek Again to Try Again in Turf Classic

Juddmonte Farms' Seek Again, who just missed winning last year's Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs, will try again in his first start of the year in $500,000 turf stakes May 2 at the Kentucky racetrack.

The Turf Classic is race 10 on a 13-race Saturday card. It's the race before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and has a probable post time of 4:44 p.m. EDT.

Last year, Seek Again, trained by Bill Mott, finished strongly along the hedge and just missed catching two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, who prevailed by a head in the 1 1/8-mile Turf Classic. The 5-year-old homebred horse by Danehill Dancer turned in that effort after a five-month rest and returns this year off of a similar layoff.

In his last start, Seek Again, a five-time winner in 13 starts for earnings of more than $730,000, finished ninth, beaten six lengths, in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) after a troubled start. In 2014, Seek Again won the grade II Fourstardave Stakes on the grass at Saratoga Race Course, and in 2013 won the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT).

Joel Rosario, his regular rider, has the mount again at 118 pounds from post 9 in a 12-horse field.

Donegal Racing and Rockingham Ranch's Finnegans Wake returns to the Midwest after six starts in Southern California. The 6-year-old Powerscourt horse won the Hollywood Turf Cup, San Gabriel Stakes, and San Marcos Stakes, all grade II turf events, in consecutive fashion.

Trained by Peter Miller, Finnegans Wake, who owns a turf win at Churchill, will make the 29th start of his career. Victor Espinoza, who rode him in his three consecutive stakes wins, has the call at 120 pounds from post 5.

Gary Barber's Jack Milton, a 5-year-old horse by War Front  , won the Makers Mark 46 Mile (gr. IT) at Keeneland in his last start for trainer Todd Pletcher and drew post 7 with Javier Castellano riding as the 124-pound highweight. Jack Milton has raced one mile on the turf in his last seven starts, but as a 3-year-old showed ability at longer distances.

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Stephanie's Kitten, a winner of nine of 20 starts, has three grade I wins and is the only female entered in the Turf Classic. The 6-year-old Kitten's Joy   mare finished a closing second behind champion Dayatthespa in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) in her final start of 2014 and returned a winner this year, with a victory in the grade III Hillsborough Handicap on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs.

John Velazquez, who has ridden the mare in most of her starts, is named by trainer Chad Brown at 115 pounds from post 8.