What a difference a year makes. Chamberlain Bridge (14) drew the rail when he won this in 2010 and now finds himself in the widest berth of all. Although he came off the fence in the stretch, he did save ground early on and spearheaded a low draw trifecta (stalls 1-2-4). That may be the best ‘in’ to solve this race. Draw a line below California Flag (6) for a win bet. That former winner of this race (when run over 6½ furlongs) came back to form last time with a victory in a Grade 3 at Santa Anita. However, he’s ran some shockers in Kentucky. He has the Wes Ward pair of Holiday For Kitten (2) and Great Attack (5) inside him in what might be a frenetic run to the first turn. The latter may be the better prospect at the odds.

PERFECT OFFICER (4) draws well and gets the nod at double-figure odds. He’s had a fine season winning three times in lesser company and has been very competitive since racing with many of today’s opponents. He was runner-up to Havelock (10) at Keeneland and may turn the tables with that rival parked very wide.       

Havelock (10) and Regally Ready (8) seemed to have the best credentials coming into the race. That was before they drew for post positions. The former may be able to stalk and pounce and Regally Ready has enough speed if not to clear but to get a good early position. He’s 2 for 2 on this turf track and beat a decent group of sprinters in a Grade 1 at Woodbine last month. He had Grand Adventure (1) back in fourth. This trip looks too short for that Canadian invader but he is worth including in the exotics on the draw alone.     

Hoofit (7) is 2 for 2 since moving from New Zealand. Rapport (9) has speed but may struggle to clear being so far off the fence. Broken Dreams (3) won at Santa Anita last time and draws better than Camp Victory (12) and Caracortado (13) who also come out of races in California. The former has a runner-up to The Factor at Del Mar on his CV. The draws may be less of an issue for Caracortado as he may be well behind and able to save ground before charging late.

Chamberlain Bridge

• Trainer: Bret Calhoun
• Jockey: Jamie Theriot
• Owner: Carl R Moore
• Odds: $6.90
• Betting Stats
• Favourites: 1/3 (33%) | Odds on Favs: 0/0 (-%)
• Longest priced winner: 36.5/1 Desert Code (2008)
• Shortest priced loser: 3/1 Silver Timber (2010)

If they keep on with the barmy idea of shuttling the Breeders’ Cup between Churchill Downs and Santa Anita, this race will be quite different in character year on year.
Scuttling round the tight five furlongs at Churchill Downs presents quite a different test from that posed by the 6½ furlongs downhill turf course at Santa Anita.

Last year’s winner, Chamberlain Bridge had a far from untroubled trip but still managed to come home a relatively comfortable winner. As could have been expected with a full field the early pace was frantic which helped the winner’s closing charge.

The 2009 winner California Flag couldn’t get competitive over the shorter trip and finished closer to the back than the front.

REGALLY READY came back to form with a vengeance with a front-running victory. The winner of a pair of turf Grade 3s at Santa Anita and Churchill earlier this year, he’d not looked as sharp in two starts since a mid-summer break. He set fractions of 23 2/5, 46 3/5 and ran the 6 furlongs in 1.11-35 on a turf track described as yielding. He had a neck and a nose to spare over twice Group 1 runner-up Bated Breath and sharp locally trained sprinter Gypsy Ring. Grand Adventure stalked the pace and never had enough pace to challenge.

Back on turf, CALIFORNIA FLAG won his first race in well over a year. He’s indicated he was on his way back with a close up 5th on Polytrack last time. Ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, California Flag had an ideal trip, stalking pacesetter Excessive Passion to the dirt crossing and fighting off a threat from the leader to win by a half-length. Excessive Passion held on for second from Ain’t No Other.
The winning time was 1.11-91 off 21 2/5 and 43 2/5 fractions.

HAVELOCK had already won two turf stakes this summer and made it a hat-trick with a one length success here. He advanced wide and showed a nice turn of foot to beat Perfect Officer. The runner-up had filled the same position in what looked a good race at Parx Racing prior to this suggesting this form is at least useful. Perfect Officer had tracked the pace and was ¾ of a length clear at the wire of Country Day who had finished behind the principals in his last two starts. Great Attack was having his first start since April was close up for a long way. Varsity set blistering fractions of 21 and 43 4/5.    
The final time was a very quick 1.01-96

HOLIDAY FOR KITTEN has took time to regain her form since an unsuccessful trip to Royal Ascot. She bounced back to her best on a surface which saw her win a stake in April. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche had her close to a 21 4/5, 44 3/5 pace set by Rapport. The three-year-old challenged on the turn and won by a head completing the 6 furlongs in a smart 1.08-72. The admirable runner up Musical Romance just missed. She was ¾ length clear of odds on favourite Switch who was outsprinted early and closed really well late.

HOOFIT made it 2 for 2 since moving from New Zealand with an 11/1 upset. He settled off the pace under Edgar Prado and closed the gap through the turn. He got through entering the stretch and  poked his head in front a furlong out to prevail by a head from Aikenite. The runner-up came into the race off a placing in a Grade 1 at Saratoga and confirmed that form with Hamazing Destiny who was third. Flashpoint and Sterling Outlook dueled for the early lead in 22, 45. Hoofit ran the 6 furlongs in 1.09-27.

BROKEN DREAMS won her first career stakes with a half a length success over Givine. She broke a little slowly and settled off the pace by Garrett Gomez. After stalking Separate Forest, gained the advantage along the fence in deep stretch and won gamely. Givine rallied 4 wide to finish second in front of Tanda.
The winning time was 1.12-23 off early fractions of 21 3/5 and 43 1/5.

BEN'S CAT made it a dozen career wins from only 17 starts with a ½ length victory here. The Maryland bred was unhurried sitting off lively fractions of 22 1/5 and 45 1/5 set by Central City. He closed really well and got there late from Perfect Officer who ran a solid race. He was only a neck clear from Chamberlain Bridge. The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Champion had been absent since a below par effort in June and ran encouragingly as well as giving 4lbs to the first two. Regally Ready stalked the pace inside and ran poorly.
The final time was 57-30.

Three-year-old THE FACTOR announced himself as a Breeders’ Cup Sprint contender with a fine performance here. Rested since an odds on failure over two turns in the Arkansas Derby, he ran 7 furlongs in a swift 1.21-56 after being involved in some heated fractions. He dueled with Smiling Tiger in 22 2/5 and 44 1/5 early before kicking clear in the stretch. He went 1.08 3/5 for 6 furlongs and was 1¾ lengths clear at the line from Camp Victory. Crown Of Thorns had every chance. Smiling Tiger had shown speed with the winner and was a contender until late on where he was outfinished for a place.

CARACORTADO had been placed in a pair of Grade 1’s this summer and gained due reward here. He stalked the pace of 23 1/5 and 47 4/5 set by Our Nautique and rallied gamely to get up on the wire. Mr Commons gained a short lead in the stretch only to be nosed out by the winner.
The winning time was 1.34-24.