Sports

SEVEN TO FACE STRAIGHT MAN

Eight 3-year-olds were entered for this weekend’s major Kentucky Derby prep, the Grade 2, $750,000 Gallery Furniture.com Stakes (formerly known as the Jim Beam) tomorrow at Turfway Park in Kentucky.

Trainer Bob Baffert’s phenom Straight Man, undefeated in two starts at Santa Anita, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the mile and an eighth event. K One King, winner of two straight stakes at Turfway by a combined 15 lengths, is second choice at 3-1, followed by California shipper Lethal Instrument, beaten a half-length last out by Straight Man, at 7-2.

Trainer Nick Zito will saddle a pair of Derby hopefuls, Rick Pitino’s The Groom Is Red (6-1) and late-blooming Stephen Got Even (10-1). Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Aly’s Alley (12-1), looking to rebound off poor races in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby, makes his third start of the year.

Machine to Tower (15-1), who won the Whirlaway at the Big A in his last start, and Epic Honor (15-1), a two-time stakes winner in Northern California, complete the field.

1ST RACE – Frosty Coy got nice ride from Heberto Castillo Jr., saving ground while drafting in behind dueling leaders, swinging out to split horses top of stretch and then drawing clear. Legal Advisor rallied four wide turn, plugged along for second. Ondro pressed early pace, made lead turning for home and held show.

2ND RACE – Jade Sky and Yo Ukie, two longest shots on board, looked out of it top of stretch as lone front-runner Kristys Song owned huge lead, but both kicked in late to blow past her and hit wire together. Photo showed Jade Sky, Filiberto Leon up, beat Yo Ukie by head bob. Gentleman’s Copy was up late to nail show by neck. Kristys Song, favored at 3-2, opened daylight early, pulled away through blazing splits (:22.1, :45.2), looked home free top of lane but soon shortened stride badly to finish out of money.

3RD RACE – In a three-way stretch duel, longshot Joey’s Lauren, who broke in the air and trailed early, drove between horses and prevailed under strong handling by Julio Pezua. Favored Mi Tejas rallied outside turn, couldn’t handle winner final yards but got place in photo over Is a Doll. Non Stop Fun was off slowly, rushed up along rail to contest pace and tired.

4TH RACE – Sensing slow pace (:26, :52.1), Eddie King made bold move midway backstretch, sending Lonsdale between horses to take command, opened up into turn and cruised home, then galloped back strongly to winner’s circle. Longshot W’Axed Moon tracked pace, took up chase when Lonsdale drew clear, lasted for second. Favored King Protea saved ground all the way but couldn’t get past W’Axed Moon down stretch.

5TH RACE – Strike It Lucky, laying third outside early, moved to leaders heading into turn, took over turning for home and drew clear as much the best under Mike Smith. Coach Riley drove between horses in deep stretch, just up for second. Favored Tennessee Bookie rallied wide turn with Strike It Lucky but couldn’t keep pace and lost place final jumps. Curvy Image pressed early pace, held gamely for fourth.

6TH RACE – Talavera trailed early, rallied wide on the turn under C.C. Lopez and stormed down center of track to score easily despite toting 122 pounds. Back-to-back victories for trainer Gasper Moschera. Chronicle couldn’t match strides with winner but came on late for second. Get the Saint charged to the lead from outside on first turn, dropped to rail, set pace to top of stretch and held well for show. Favored Fire King pressed Get the Saint from first turn, never could get by.

7TH RACE – Captive, favored at 6-5 with Vladimir Diaz up, sprinted right off to daylight lead, set fast pace (:22.1, :45.2) and was never threatened. Little Champ launched bid on far turn, held off Fast and Fortunate by neck to complete exacta.

8TH RACE – Too Too Divine raced along inside in closest attendance to runaway Girl in Velvet, began to make up ground turning for home, slowly cut into pacesetter’s lead, finally caught her deep stretch and dug in to hold off late run of Royally Planned. Winner was King’s second of day. Girl in Velvet, 4-5 choice, opened huge early lead under Jose Espinoza, hung tough when challenged in midstretch but tired final sixteenth.

PICK SIX

Winning numbers: 3-5-8-1-2-2One winner paid $31,25525 consolation (5 of 6) winnerseach receives $416.50No carryover.