Racing Dudes Three Stars of the Week: Mr. Misunderstood Shines at Churchill

There really is no way of putting this lightly. When it comes to quality racing, this past weekend could not have been more different than the weekend prior. However, you can’t run the Breeders’ Cup every weekend. Aqueduct, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park West, Laurel Park, and Woodbine were the center of attention on Saturday and Sunday. Let’s see who made the three stars from those tracks:

1. Mr. Misunderstood

Since returning from a small layoff, this horse has been unstoppable. He took Louisiana by storm, winning the Super Derby and Super Derby Prelude, then attacked Churchill Downs for wins in the Jefferson Cup and Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf this past Saturday. The Brad Cox-trained colt has won six of seven races this year, with his only loss coming in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby on the dirt. Fair Grounds could be next for Mr. Misunderstood: it opens Saturday, and he won three races there during the last meet.

2. Spring Quality

Saturday’s Grade 3 Red Smith, the only other graded stakes races on the week, provided a nice 12-1 winner. Spring Quality dug in and held on late to defeat the closing Call Provision. This win marked the fifth time in nine starts that he’s found the winner’s circle, and he now has a stakes victory on both dirt and turf. Trainer Graham Motion mentioned that Spring Quality will probably get a freshening before gearing up for a big 2018 campaign. He believes that this horse could make an impact in the division next year.

3. Mr. Jordan

For the third year in a row, Mr. Jordan started in the Sunshine Millions Classic Preview, and for the second straight year, he emerged victorious. This year’s win may have been the most impressive of his career as he sailed home to win by over 11 lengths. This type of race seems to be where he runs best, as he hasn’t quite been able to bring that type of effort against top-flight company. The win likely propels him to race against tougher company when Gulfstream Park opens in a few weeks.