Jockey Julien Leparoux and trainer Kenny McPeek took the opener with the even-money favorite Atigun, who -- despite stumbling a bit at the start -- rallied from last with a four-wide bid to win the 1 1/16th miles allowance optional claiming race by a length over Politicallycorrect, stopping the clock in 1:43.05. Looking strictly at the results of this race, I would say that there is an outside bias -- in a six-horse field, the two horses that raced along the rail finished fifth and sixth -- but it's really too early to say for sure. After all, the two rail-runners were 6-1 and 16-1. Maybe they were just beaten because they weren't good enough.
The next race on the card is a six-furlong maiden special weight for three-year-olds and up. Ten were entered, but three scratches have reduced the field to only seven runners. Vasten, who finished second last time out in a similar race at Keeneland, looks like a pretty solid favorite. But the early wagering has the first-time starter Master Cip as the 4-5 favorite, down from 8-1 on the morning line.
Jockey Julien Leparoux -- who won the opener, as mentioned above -- will be aboard Big Ring, who finished second last time out in a maiden special weight at Turfway Park.
Also note that the main track has been upgraded to "muddy".
For those who are interested in European racing, favored Camelot got up in the final strides to win the English 2,000 Guineas by a neck over French Fifteen. Trained by Aiden O'Brien and ridden by Joseph O'Brien, I would expect that he will head to the Epsom Derby in June as one of the favorites.
-Keelerman
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