Drill Drops in For Run at Governor's Cup

A field of 10 will go to the post on Wednesday at the Los Angeles County Fair Fairplex course for the $75,000 Governor’s Cup Handicap, to be run at 6 ½ furlongs on the dirt. The field of three year olds and up includes a past Grade I winner in Drill, as well as the 2011 Governor’s Cup champion in the seven-year-old Carbonite. Despite being the only Grade I winner in the group, Drill has been installed as only the 3-1 choice in the morning line, due to carrying high weight of 125 lbs.

Drill searching for first win of the 2013 season

Drill, a four-year-old Lawyer Ron colt picked up four wins in his first 12 lifetime starts, but has not yet found the winner’s circle in six races for 2013. Those races have been almost exclusively Grade I and II events, and most recently he was sixth in the Grade II Pat O’Brien Handicap at Hollywood Park, in a field that included 2013 Kentucky Derby contender Goldencents. His Grade I score came in the 2011 Del Mar Futurity, and his last win was in the Grade III Lazaro Barerra Memorial Stakes at Hollywood in May 2012.

Challengers have struggled in lesser events as well

Second choice in the ML for the Governor’s Cup is 7-2 Kate’s Event, who has racked up most of his six lifetime wins in allowance optional company, although he did win the Tiznow Stakes at Hollywood in April. Carbonite, meanwhile, has struggled to equal his form of two years ago, with his most recent victory coming in a $35,000 claiming race at Hollywood. At the other end of the weight scale from Drill is Cacau, assigned only 111 lbs. In his first year of racing, he has one win from seven starts, and that in a six-furlong turf event at Hollywood.