Grade 3 Colonel Bradley Draws Competitive Field of 9

A field of nine is set for the mile and one sixteenth race on the grass, led by 9/5 morning line favorite Villandry, who won the Grade 3 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs in his last start.  The former Charles Lopresti trainee will be making his first start for David Carroll.  Villandry has won 5 of 18 career starts, including 2 of 5 at the mile and one sixteenth distance, for earnings of $258,204.

Grand Contender makes grass debut 

4/1 second choice Grand Contender is an interesting item for trainer Tom Amoss.  The seven year-old gelding has never raced on turf in 26 career starts, but is reasonably well-bred for the surface switch.  Amoss connects at a 22% clip with his first-time turf starters giving backers a valid reason to support the move.  Grand Contender could be the early leader in a field without much speed.  He will break from post six under jockey Gerard Melancon. 

String King in sharp form 

String King (9/2) has been razor-sharp of late for trainer Charles Smith.  The seven year-old gelded son of Crowned King easily dispatched eight rivals in the Louisiana Turf Stakes last out, but now faces open company after beating a field restricted to Louisiana-bred horses.  In ten starts over the Fair Grounds turf, String King has compiled an impressive 5-2-1 record.  Jockey James Graham, who was aboard String King in each of his last two starts, has the call again breaking from post five.