Kathmanblu, Aide Look To Validate 'Stars of Tomorrow' Status As Co-Favorites in Grade II Golden Rod

Nov 24, 2010 Gary Yunt

Wind River Stables and Five D Thoroughbreds’ Kathmanblu, a troubled third to More Than Real in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade II) in her most recent start, and Adele Dilschneider’s homebred Aide, a dazzling 19 ¾-length allowance winner here on Oct. 31, head a field of seven 2-year-old fillies entered to compete in Saturday’s 67th running of the $150,000 Golden Rod Stakes (GII).

The Golden Rod, won last year by Sassy Image, will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track and goes as the co-featured ninth event on the 12-race “Stars of Tomorrow II” card devoted exclusively to 2-year-olds. Post time for the Golden Rod is 4:42 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post time for the program that also features the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) is 12:40 p.m.

Trained by Ken McPeek, Kathmanblu debuted on the dirt in a 4 ½-furlong sprint here in June, finishing eighth. Since then, the daughter of 2006 Kentucky Derby (GI) runner-up Bluegrass Cat has found herself at home on the grass with a record of 2-1-1 in four turf races that includes a four-length victory in the Jessamine at Keeneland.

Churchill Downs handicapper Mike Battaglia has installed Kathmanblu as the narrow 8-5 favorite in his morning line odds for the Golden Rod.  Julien Leparoux, who won the Golden Rod in 2007 aboard Pure Clan, has the call on Kathmanblu, who will break from post position four.

Aide, the 9-5 second choice in the Golden Rod., runs for the team that took the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) with Blame.  The daughter of Arch will break from post one under Garrett Gomez, who rode Blame in the Classic for Dilschneider and trainer Al Stall Jr., Blame’s co-owner/breeder and trainer, respectively.  She broke her maiden at second asking on Polytrack at Turfway Park prior to her eye-catching Churchill Downs allowance win at the Golden Rod distance.

Also in the field are the third- and fourth-place finishers from the opening-day Pocahontas (GII), Missyoulikecrazy (7-2) and Gran Lioness (6-1), respectively. Robby Albarado, who won the 1997 Golden Rod on Love Lock, has the call on Missyoulikecrazy, who will break from post position two and Shaun Bridgmohan will ride Gran Lioness, who breaks from post position six.

The field for the Golden Rod, from the rail out (with rider and morning line odds), is as follows: Aide (Gomez, 9-5), Missyoulikecrazy (Albarado, 7-2), Missed the Point (Tony Farina, 15-1), Kathmanblu (Leparoux, 8-5), Suave Voir Faire (Sal Gonzalez Jr., 20-1), Gran Lioness (Bridgmohan, 6-1) and Sweet Deal to Win, (Jon Court, 20-1). All starters will carry 119 pounds.