A full field of 12 is set to compete in the Grade 3 $500,000 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes this Saturday. The 1 1/8 mile race will be run on the Polytrack at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky. A victory would guarantee the winner a spot in the Kentucky Derby.
Last year’s edition produced the eventual Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, trained by Graham Motion and owned by Team Valor International. The pair hopes to repeat with a win by Went The Day Well.
Second choice in the field at morning line odds of 4-1, Went The Day Well comes in off a maiden victory nearly two weeks ago at Gulfstream Park where he earned a 93 Brisnet speed figure in the 1 1/16 mile victory. Among the Vinery Racing Spiral contenders, this son of Proud Citizen boasts the highest Brisnet speed rating (92) at the 1 1/8 mile distance; a rating he earned when finishing fourth in his first U.S. start. The colt was previously raced in Great Britain.
Trainer Mark Casse will try blinkers on Stealcase, who finished sixth to Hansen in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes. Stealcase comes into the race off a bullet work in which he breezed five furlongs in a minute and change. The addition of blinkers may be what this Lawyer Ron colt needs to get back to the winner’s circle. Jockey Rajiv Maragh will take the mount for the first time.
