LNJ Foxwoods' and Eclipse Thoroughbreds' undefeated Annex, along with Stuart Janney III's Scarlett Sky and John Oxley's Palazzi, the one-two finishers in the recent Transylvania (G3) at Keeneland, top a field of 14 3-year-olds for Saturday's 30th running of the $500,000 American Turf presented by Derby City Gaming (G2) at Churchill Downs.
The 1 1/16-mile grass test serves as the ninth race on Saturday's Kentucky Derby day card with a 3:40 p.m. post time.
Trained by Bill Mott, Annex comes into Saturday's race off victories in the Palm Beach and Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount and will exit post four.
Trained by Shug McGaughey, Scarlett Sky rallied from far back to win the Transylvania by a half-length after being beaten by a head in the Palm Beach by Annex. Joel Rosario has the mount Saturday and will break from post 13.
Palazzi, who took the Texas Turf Mile to start his 2021 campaign, is trained by Mark Casse and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 14.
The field for the American Turf, with riders and weights from the inside, is:
- Excellent Timing (Umberto Rispoli, 118 pounds)
- Winfromwithin (Luis Saez, 118)
- Chess's Dream (Jose Ortiz, 120)
- Annex (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118)
- Du Jour (Flavien Prat, 118)
- Royal Prince (Javier Castellano, 118)
- Dyn O Mite (James Graham, 118)
- Barrister Tom (Drayden Van Dyke, 118)
- Holy Vow (Sophie Doyle, 118)
- Next (John Velazquez, 118)
- Hidden Enemy (Mike Smith, 118)
- Lucky Law (Florent Geroux, 118)
- Scarlett Sky (Joel Rosario, 120)
- Palazzi (Tyler Gaffalione, 118)
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