Mongolian Saturday Returns in Woodford

Runners familiar with Keeneland’s turf course often have a leg up on the competition which gives Mongolian Saturday a big chance to get back on the winning track Oct. 8 in the $150,000 Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (gr. IIIT).

The 6-year-old gelding won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) over the course at the Woodford’s 5 1/2-furlong distance.

Mongolian Saturday launched an international campaign following his Breeders’ Cup score, shipping to Hong Kong to run in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I) in mid-December. He finished fifth. He’s made just three starts this year, one in Hong Kong and two unplaced efforts in group I company at Royal Ascot and at Newmarket in England.

A return to the U.S. may be the tonic. A :33 1/5 three-furlong move Sept. 30 over Arlington International Race Course’s Polytrack figures to have him sharp enough for his first stateside outing in a year.

Wes Welker and Sheep Pond Partners’ Undrafted also has a win over the course, taking the Shakertown Stakes (gr. IIT) in April after finishing fifth as the favorite in last year’s Turf Sprint. He, too, tried Royal Ascot in 2016 after winning there last year and has run well in two starts since. Last time out at Kentucky Downs he was fourth behind winner Successful Native, Hogy and Almasty in the $350,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint.

Hogy, by Offlee Wild, and Almasty, by Scat Daddy, also will try the Woodford. Almasty ran well in his first run shorter than seven furlongs since his debut in 2014.