West Point Thoroughbreds' Kentucky Derby runner-up Commanding Curve could make his first start since his ninth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes in the July 25 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
Although he has earned $542,434 in eight starts, the 3-year-old Master Command ridgling who finished second in the Kentucky Derby at 38-1 odds and third in the Louisiana Derby still has one win to his credit. The 1 ⅛-mile Curlin is for 3-year-olds which have not won a graded stakes over a mile in 2014.
Trained by Dallas Stewart, Commanding Curve will break from the inside post under Shaun Bridgmohan while carrying 117 pounds in the field of 10. The colt has been training weekly, including a quick five-furlong breeze in 1:01 at Churchill Downs July 6, the third-best among 21 working that distance.
Co-highweighted at 123 is Konrad M. Wayson's homebred Joint Custody, a gelded son of Outflanker who has won or placed in 10 of 11 starts, with earnings of $273,905 for trainer John Robb. Included in his five wins are the Marylander and Maryland Juvenile Championship, both at Laurel Park, and the Stanton at Delaware Park in his most recent outing.
The Curlin also drew Joseph H. Moss' Spot, the Pulpit gelding trained by Nick Zito whose two wins from eight starts includes the Swale Stakes.