Kaigun Heads Elkhorn Field

Kaigun, winner of the Pan American (gr. IIT) in his most recent start, heads a field of eight for the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (gr. IIT) April 23 at Keeneland.

The Elkhorn, run at 1 1/2 miles on the turf, will go as the ninth race Saturday afternoon with a 5:30 ET post.

Trained by Mark Casse for Gary Barber, Quintessential Racing Florida, and Horse'n Around Stable, Kaigun snapped a streak of four runner-up finishes with his victory in the April 2 Pan American at Gulfstream Park. Saturday's race will be the third on the Keeneland sod for Kaigun, who chased two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the 2014 Maker's 46 Mile (gr. IT) and Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT), finishing second and fourth, respectively.

LEWYN: Kaigun Breaks Through for Pan American Score

Joe Bravo, who has been aboard the 6-year-old Canadian-bred son of Northern Afleet   in his last four starts, has the mount from post 7.

Chief among Kaigun's rivals are Skychai Racing's Da Big Hoss and West Point Thoroughbreds' Twilight Eclipse.

Trained by Mike Maker, Da Big Hoss has won two of his last five starts, with victories coming in the John B. Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) and the Kentucky Turf Cup (gr. IIIT), both at the Elkhorn distance.

Sixth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Keeneland last fall, Da Big Hoss will break from the rail under Florent Geroux.

Trained by Tom Albertrani, Twilight Eclipse won the Man o' War (gr. IT) last year for his fifth graded stakes victory. The 7-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Purim has finished second in four other grade I races and third in five other grade I tries.

Seventh in his 2016 debut in the Mac Diarmida (gr. IIT) March 5, Twilight Eclipse will be ridden by Julien Leparoux from post 6.