Veteran Brass Hat Bids for Repeat Victory in $100,000 Louisville Handicap

May 20, 2010 Gary Yunt

Fred Bradley’s veteran Brass Hat will face 10 rivals Saturday as he attempts to become the seventh horse to score multiple victories in the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII).

The 73rd running of the 1 ½-mile test over the Matt Winn Turf Course will go as the 10th race on Saturday’s 11-race program with an approximate post time of 5:29 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post time is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Buff Bradley, the popular Brass Hat rallied to win the 2009 Louisville Handicap by a half-length over Spice Route. Calvin Borel, who was aboard that day for his third Louisville Handicap triumph, has the call on Brass Hat, who will carry top weight of 119 pounds and concede 2-6 pounds to his rivals. A fast-closing second in the Elkhorn (GII) at Keeneland on April 23 in his most recent start, the 9-year-old Brass Hat will break from post position five.

One of those rivals is Chrysalis Stables’ Silverfoot, a three-time winner of the Louisville Handicap and another popular veteran who is now 10-years-old.  Trained by Dallas Stewart, Silverfoot won this race in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Silverfoot, who will be ridden by Corey Lanerie, will carry 115 pounds and break from post position nine.

Other multiple winners of the Louisville Handicap are Chorwon (1997-99), List (1971, 1974), Cabildo (1967-68), Tartan Man (1966, 1969) and Little Fitz (1960-61).  Chorwon and Silverfoot are the only horses to win multiple runnings of the Louisville since the race was moved to the grass.

Three horses share second high weight in the field at 117 pounds headed by Lothenbach Stables’ Bearpath. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Bearpath won the Pan American (GIII) at Gulfstream Park in March and gave apprentice jockey Freddie Lenclud his first graded stakes victory. Lenclud will be back aboard Saturday on Bearpath, who will break from post position one.

Also carrying 117 pounds are Maynard Farm and B A Man Stable’s Blushing Bear and JoAnn and Alex Lieblong’s Telling.

Trained by James Dodgen, Blushing Bear finished third in the Elkhorn in his most recent start. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount Saturday. Telling, trained by Steve Hobby, won the Grade I Sword Dancer last summer at Saratoga and was fourth in his 2010 debut last month at Keeneland. Shaun Bridgmohan has the mount Saturday.
    
    The field for the Louisville Handicap, from the hedge out, is as follows: Bearpath (Lenclud, 117 pounds), Blushing Bear (Hernandez Jr., 117), Telling (Bridgmohan, 117), Free Fighter (Francisco Torres, 115), Brass Hat (Borel, 119), Eagle Poise (Jamie Theriot, 115), March to Victory (Julien Leparoux, 114), Spy in the Sky (James Lopez, 114), Silverfoot (Lanerie, 115), Silver Mountain (Miguel Mena, 113) and Hidden Glance (Alex Solis, 113).