The Underling Rolls in Churchill Downs Return

May 30, 2011 Travers Manley

Alex G Campbell Jr’s homebred The Underling took the lead at the three-eighths pole and increased his advantage throughout the stretch to win Sunday’s $51,065 feature at Churchill Downs by four lengths.

            Trained by Rusty Arnold and ridden by Robby Albarado, The Underling rated in second off fractions of :21.36, :44.53 and :56.47 set by Simple Words, the 6-5 favorite who faded to last in a field a field of seven fillies and mares ages 3 and up. The Underling covered six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:09.46.

            The 4-year-old Underling broke from post five as the second choice and returned mutuels of $11.60, $6 and $5.40. Honchis’n Ponchis rallied for second and paid $5.40 and $3.20, with Elusive Jozi another neck back in third returning $5.20.

            The victory was worth $32,100 and increased The Underling’s bankroll to $104,554 with a career record of 3-1-0 in seven races. The 4-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon, who broke her maiden beneath the Twin Spires last June, was making her first start in more than seven months. The Underling made her career debut at Churchill Downs in June 2009 where she finished second behind Beautician and ahead of Sassy Image, the latter a three-time stakes winner at Churchill Downs who won the 2011Grade I Humana Distaff on Kentucky Derby Day.

             Sassy Image is the 7-5 morning line favorite for the eighth running of the Grade III, $100,000-added Winning Colors, the featured event on Monday’s special 10-race Memorial Day program at Churchill Downs. The first race will be 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Winning Colors will go as Race 9 at approximately 4:59 p.m.