Kentucky Derby 2023: Long shot Mage offers a lot for a big price
Read this articleAccomplished Field of Seven Set for $250,000 Commonwealth Cup Stakes
On Saturday at Laurel Park, the featured race is the $250,000 Commonwealth Cup Stakes. Carded at a mile and an eighth on the turf, the Grade 2 race has drawn a field of seven colts and geldings.
Mr. Speaker has been tabbed as the morning line favorite at odds of 8-5 in the competitive field for trainer Claude McGaughey, III. A Phipps Stable homebred, the four-year-old son of Pulpit has won five of his fifteen starts and is a multiple graded stakes winner. He has hit the board once from four starts this year and that came in the form of a win against optional claiming competition two races back. Jose Ortiz will be in the irons from post position two.
Multiple champion Up With the Birds a major threat
Second choice at morning line odds of 9-5 is Up With the Birds for trainer Graham Motion. The Sovereign Award winner in 2013 as both champion three-year-old and Horse of the Year, the five-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic is a seven-time winner. He is winless from three starts this year and was last seen finishing fourth in the Arlington Million (G1). Trevor McCarthy will be aboard and they will break from post position five.
Legendary (GB) trying to regain competitive form
Also in the field at morning line odds of 7-2 is Legendary (GB) for trainer Niall Saville. A six-year-old gelded son of Exceed and Excel (AUS), he is a six-time career winner and earned his first graded stakes victory last year. He has struggled from four starts this year and was twelfth last time out in the Arlington Million (G1). Sheldon Russell will be aboard and they will break from the outside post as he tries to return to form.
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