Sarawak Rim tries his luck on the turf at Keeneland, aiming to improve

The Argentine mare will run this Thursday in the 10th race, a $130,000 allowance over 1800 meters; she will break from post 12, drawn wide

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special to Turf Diario).- Argentine mare Sarawak Rim will make several changes in an effort to improve her form in the United States. After a more than respectable local debut in the ultra-competitive Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), and following a decidedly poor effort at Gulfstream Park a few weeks ago, the daughter of Remotewill look to rebound this Thursday at Keeneland, competing on turf for the first time in her career.

She will do so in the 10th race on the card, a $130,000 allowance over 1800 meters, where, unfortunately, she drew post 12, the outermost gate in the field. Panamanian rider Luis Sáez will be aboard.

Owned by JCB Stables LLC and trained by Rusty Arnold, the winner of last season’s Gran Premio Criadores (G1) at Palermo is listed at 20-1 on the morning line and arrives for this assignment with several encouraging workouts, most of them on turf.

It does not appear to be an easy task for Sarawak Rim, who will face, among her main rivals, Pretty Picture (Munnings) from the barn of Chad Brown. Unbeaten in her first two starts, she was third in the Sands Point Stakes (G2) at Belmont at the Big A and then second in the Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, though she has not been seen since November.

Breaking from the rail will be Strong Destiny (Constitution), who comes in off two straight wins at Turfway Park and will be ridden by Peruvian jockey Fernando de la Cruz.

Brendan Walsh and Irad Ortiz Jr. team up with Massarat (Curlin), who also enters off back-to-back victories, the first at Kentucky Downs and the second at Churchill Downs.

Another leading contender is Befriended (Nyquist), racing for Godolphin, trained by Brad Cox, and to be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. With three wins to her name, all at Turfway Park, she has recently been competitive in a couple of outings.

Sarawak Rim aims to improve her profile in the United States, switching from dirt to turf.