Written by: Kevin Kerstein
One of the highlights of the final weekend of the meet at Churchill Downs will be the Grade 3 Bashford Manor for 2-year-old colts and geldings going six furlongs on the dirt. The race will be drawn on Wednesday, but there looks to be a field of nine lining up.
Positively will be one of the horses headlining the race for trainer Patrick Byrne and the same connections of Take Charge Indy from the 2012 Kentucky Derby. Positively broke his maiden last out in his second career start, and only looks to improve going a longer distance. Positively worked Sunday and recorded the quickest three-eighths work of the day and galloped out four furlongs in :48 and five furlongs in 1:01.40. Positively was purchased for $200,000 and is the half brother to Malibu Moon.
Roman's Avenue is another who looks to make some noise in the Bashford Manor Stakes. Donegal Racing's colt out of Street Sense won his maiden breaking score by over 4 lengths at odds-on. Romans Avenue will likely be ridden by the leading jockey at Churchill Downs' Spring Meet, Corey Lanerie. Trainer Dale Romans worked Roman's Avenue on Sunday and was the second fastest of 19 workers going 1:00:80 for five furlongs.
Other possible entries include Circle Unbroken, Go Jack Go, Good Tickled, Red Wings, I'm Boundtoscore, Praetorian Prefect, Hightail, and Special Jo.
Most recently, the Bashford Manor has not produced a Kentucky Derby entrant. However, the race produced a lot of horses who showed talent as a 3-year-old. We'll bring you the full list of entries plus coverage of the race later this week on HRN's 2-Year-Old Tracker.