Divisidero Hopes for Trip in American Turf

Gunpowder Farms' Divisidero, a nice third in the Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park despite some trouble in his last start, will hope for a better trip in a bulky field drawn for the $250,000 American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs May 2.

 

The 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-olds drew a field of 14 and is the sixth race on Saturday's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) card with a probable post time of 1:19 p.m. EDT.

 

Trained by William "Buff" Bradley, Divisidero, by Kitten's Joy  , circled foes from well back to break his maiden in his career debut Feb. 7 at Gulfstream in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight event on the grass. He returned March 7 for the Palm Beach, also at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, and closed very well but ran into a little traffic at the eighth-pole.

 

Divisidero, only 4-1 in the Palm Beach, continued on well to finish third, three-quarters of a length behind Eh Cumpari. Rafael Hernandez, who rode him in his first two starts, is back aboard 118 pounds from post 11.

 

The 123-pound highweight from post 8 is Conquest Typhoon, who has a solid record in four starts on turf. The Stormy Atlantic   colt won the Summer Stakes (Can-IIT) at one mile on the grass at Woodbine, and later in the year captured the grade III Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at one mile on the turf at Del Mar.

 

In his last start for trainer Mark Casse, Conquest Typhoon rallied to finish second in the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) at Turfway Park behind Dubai Sky, who was sidelined with an injury after the race after being nominated to the Triple Crown. In eight starts, Conquest Typhoon has two wins, four seconds, and a third, with a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) last year.

 

Mike Smith will ride Conquest Typhoon in the American Turf.

 

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's Luck of the Kitten, second to Hootenanny in the Juvenile Turf, drew post 1 and will be ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer Wesley Ward. In his 2015 debut, Luck of the Kitten led early in the 1 1/16-mile Transylvania Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland and continued on gamely to miss by a neck to Night Prowler.

 

Luck of the Kitten, a confirmed front-runner, figures to attract plenty of attention given his inside post draw.