Alsvid Has Right Running Style for Aristides

A small but speedy roster of sprinters have signed on to the June 4 Aristides Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs, running six furlongs for a $100,000 purse.

Toews On Ice is one of three confirmed front-runners in the seven-horse field, and could take the worst of it from his rail post. The only 3-year-old in the field, Toews On Ice is usually on the lead or breathing down the neck of the leader for the first part of his races. He won the William Walker Stakes in the slop at Churchill in his last out, and took the Bob Hope Stakes (gr. III) at Del Mar last fall in similar fashion.

Limousine Liberal stopped after setting the tempo in the Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II) last month, faltering to finish sixth. He has a good second behind eventual champion Runhappy in the Kings Bishop (gr. I) last summer but has not won past the allowance level. His draw inside speedster Union Jackson doesn’t aid his cause. Union Jackson tries stakes company for the first time. He’s won three of his last four in allowance conditions and seems like a need-the-lead type.

All that speed sets the Aristides up, at least on paper, for a late mover. Perhaps Alsvid fills that bill. He has hit the board in seven straight races since being buried in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) last year, and figures to be able to take advantage if he can sit just off the burners here—although he hasn’t won since taking last year’s edition of this race.

Barbados didn’t run much when last in the Churchill Downs, but was a stakes winner at Tampa Bay Downs three back. He won the Hutcheson (gr. III) early last year and will be dangerous if he finds that form.

Schivarelli draws outside and has the right stalking style, but his open stakes efforts have been just so-so. He’s faced nice horses and checked in fourth in the 2014 Wood Memorial (gr. I), but it’s been nearly 20 months since his last victory. Grande Basin has won a couple of allowance events this season but will be getting a stiff class test here.