COPPER TOWN ($3.40) returned from a layoff of a little more than a year with a great-looking comeback in R3 here today, winning a 2x alw. by 5 lengths when finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.91 over a fast track, less than a second off the track record (1:15.05) set 2 1/2 years ago. Javier Castellano was aboard the 4yo Speightstown colt for Todd Pletcher and an ownership group comprised mostly of members of the Justify partnership, including the WinStar Farm of Kenny Troutt.
Castellano and WinStar president Elliott Walden both called Copper Town "a special horse" after the race, with Walden saying the Grade 1 Cigar Mile on Dec. 1 is a logical next start.
We'll have more on Copper Town in our Wed. print editions, with the info available Monday on www.drf.com.