BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Trainer Joe Orseno hopes added distance will be the key to returning Hades to the winner’s circle Saturday when the Florida-bred gelding runs in the $300,000 Bourbon Flight at a mile-and three-sixteenths. The graded stakes-winning son of Ocala Stud stallion Awesome Slew is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line against five other 3-year-olds.
Hades started his career winning his first three starts culminating with a two-length victory in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream Park in February.
While defeating accomplished sophomores Domestic Product and Fierceness in the Holy Bull and earning points on the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve leaderboard, Hades eventually missed the Run for the Roses after a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby won by Fierceness on March 30 and an uncharacteristic seventh behind winner Encino in the Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland on April 13.
However, he has been solid in three starts against stakes company since his return in June, including a second to Domestic Product in the Grade 3 Dwyer in July and third last out in the $102,000 Petramalo Mile at Colonial Downs on Aug. 11.
A $130,000 purchase by D. J. Stable at last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale out of the Ocala Stud consignment, Hades has earned $322,650 from three wins, a second and two thirds in eight starts. He is out of The Shady Lady, by Quality Road and was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud.
Orseno has named Luis Saez to ride Hades and they will break from the outside post six.
Trainer Bill Mott has the 6-5 morning line favorite for the Bourbon Flight in Grade 3 Ohio Derby-winner Batten Down.
The grey or roan colt gets easier company Saturday after his fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Travers won by Fierceness going a mile-and-a-quarter at Saratoga on Aug. 24. He was also second to Fierceness two races ago in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 27.
A Juddmonte homebred, Batten Down is by Tapit out of Close Hatches, by First Defence and has earned $504,850 from two wins, a second and two thirds in seven starts.
Junior Alvardo has the return mount and they will break from post three.
Also entered for the Bourbon Flight are Real Macho, who was fourth in the Petramalo Mile for trainer Rohan Crichton; and $250,000 St. Louis Derby runner-up Next Level out of the Keith Desormeaux barn.
Real Macho, a son of Florida-bred Mucho Macho Man, is 4-1 in the program and will carry Tyler Gaffalione from post five.
Next Level, the 6-1 handicapper’s choice, will have jockey Jarreth Loveberry.
Elephant Ears and rider Colby Hernandez and Mugatu with Roman Vazquez up, round out the field.
