Macho Again to test the turf in Woodchopper

Macho Again’s pedigree suggests that he might like the surface switch (Bill Roberts/Horsephotos.com) In a race that marks a passing resemblance to a Grade 3 event, Saturday’s Woodchopper S. for three-year-olds at Fair Grounds will mark the turf debut of MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno), one of the better sophomore colts this season not named Big Brown. Winner of the Derby Trial S. and Jim Dandy S. (G2), the Dallas Stewart trainee also finished second to Big Brown in the Preakness S. (G1) and most recently filled the same position in the Super Derby (G2). At about one mile on the turf, the Woodchopper is one of five stakes on the Santa Super Saturday program, each carrying a $60,000 purse. The possible favorite in the Woodchopper is MYBOYCHARLIE (Ire) (Danetime), who rebounded from a poor U.S. debut at Hawthorne to take an allowance/optional claimer in front-running fashion over this course and distance on December 5. Now under the care of Cody Autrey, Myboycharlie was the highweight juvenile colt in France last season after wins in the Prix Morny (Fr-G1) at Deauville and the Anglesey S. (Ire-G3) at The Curragh. The Woodchopper also features JIMMY SIMMS (Lost Soldier), who endured his first turf setback when beaten less than a length into third in the November 9 Commonwealth Turf S. (G3) at Churchill Downs, as well as TURF WAR (Dixie Union), the dead-heat winner of the 2007 Delta Jackpot (G3) who has not started since an eighth-place effort behind Macho Again in the April 26 Derby Trial.

The
Esplanade S. for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs has attracted a load of
graded stakes veterans, including SHE’S
INDY MONEY (A.P. Indy), who has not raced since taking the Seaway S. (Can-G3) in
September 2007; Raven Run S. (G2) runner-up SECRET GYPSY (Sea of
Secrets); Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) runner-up CONTROL SYSTEM (Lion Hearted); and
Argentine Group 1 winner MISTY LADY (Arg) (Lucky Roberto). The latter three
enter off overnight scores at Churchill Downs, as does the sophomore DUBAI
MAJESTY (Essence of Dubai), who placed in the Raven Run, Indiana Oaks (G2) and
Azalea S. (G3) earlier in the season.

Also among the Esplanade field of 11 are two California shippers, the speedy
KALOOKAN DANCER (Olympio) and stalker/closer SILKY SMOOTH (Mr. Greeley), both
multiple stakes winners.

The
Bonapaw S. for older horses at about 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf will feature
a clash between CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE (War Chant), winner of the Woodford S. at
Keeneland two back, and local stakes hero STORM TREASURE (Storm Boot), who exits
third-place efforts in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and Kennedy Road S.
(Can-G3), the latter over Polytrack.

Chamberlain Bridge, who was claimed for $35,000 at Fair Grounds on March 23,
has won three of six in the interim. In addition to his score in the Woodford,
the four-year-old gelding also owns stakes placings in the Lone Star
Turf Sprint and Brother Brown S. for trainer Bret Calhoun. Storm Treasure, whose
main track career was highlighted by a second in the 2006 Blue Grass S. (G1),
notched his first career stakes triumph in his last spin over this lawn in the
March 15 Allen “Black Cat” Lacombe Memorial H. Another who might play a part is
ROCK GOLD (El Prado [Ire]), who finished well ahead of Myboycharlie when third
in the Don Ciccio S. at Hawthorne last out.

A pair of six-furlong juvenile races, the
Sugar
Bowl S. and the

Letellier Memorial S. for fillies, bookend Saturday’s stakes action. The
Letellier Memorial goes first and features only a field of six, including
Prairie Meadows Debutante winner A DAY FOR DANCING (Dance Master), who will
attempt to rebound off a second in the Pontalba S. here on November 22.
Two-time winner SHE’S EXTREME (Unbridled’s Song) and recent graduates LEIGH
MCLOVIN (Flame Thrower) and LINNEA (Candy Ride [Arg]) will all make their stakes
debuts.

A full field of 12 will line up for the Sugar Bowl, with virtually none looking
out of place. Bashford Manor S. (G3) victor SCREEN YOUR FRIEND (Friends Lake)
hopes to improve on his third in the Old Hickory S. following a layoff of more
than three months, while Keeneland debut winner MERKEL (Forest Wildcat) returns
following an absence of more than seven months. When last seen in the May 1
Kentucky S. (G3), Merkel set the pace but faded to fourth behind a trio of
next-out winners.

In addition to the numerous invaders from Kentucky, the Sugar Bowl also
features Philadelphia Park and Delaware Park mainstays ASK JOE (Najran), DOC’S
FRIEND (Friends Lake) and IT HAPPENED AGAIN (Proud Citizen), the latter two an
uncoupled entry from trainer Larry Jones.