US action starts early again this week with the Gr-IIIT Bewitch Stakes (4yo+, f/m, 12f) in Keenland to be Thursday, which is a wide-open affair.  Top contenders are Viva La Flag and Final Refrain, second and third in a recent local allowance, Gr-III placed Tejida or potential longshot Eres Magica, a Gr-I winner in Chile.

Friday features the Gr-IIT Elkhorn Stakes (4yo+, 12f), which is the final stakes race of the Keenland spring meet.  Gr-I winner Brass Hat, whose been battling the top handicap horses in the country, will switch to turf for the first time in four years as he looks for his first win since last September.  But in his way will be the top two finishers from last month’s Gr-IIT Mac Diarmida Handicap, Stream of Gold and True Cause, and who are used to running these longer races. ‘Gold will be yielding 4lbs to both, so he will have his work cut out.  Also contending will be Gr-III Sycamore Stakes winner Transduction Gold, making his ’08 debut, and late running Drilling for Oil.

Tune in later for a preview of the weekend action.