Machen dashed his connections' Kentucky Derby dreams when he flattened out to run fourth in the Risen Star Stakes and fifth in the Louisiana Derby this spring at Fair Grounds.
Saturday, before a packed house opening night at Churchill Downs in the Grade 3, $231,400 Derby Trial, Machen gave them something else to dream about: his potential as a late-running sprinter/miler.
Racing against solid cast of 3-year-olds in the one-turn Derby Trial at a mile, Machen unleashed a stretch kick that had been absent in his two-turn stakes efforts. He rallied furiously down the center of the track to catch Dominus a couple jumps before the wire.
