Michael Dubb's well-traveled Therapist, a recent Grade 2 winner and nine-time stakes winner, headlines a field of 11 turf marathoners that entered Saturday's 86th running of the $225,000 Louisville Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The 1 ½-mile Louisville is scheduled to be contested in Lane 1 on the Matt Winn Turf Course. First post Saturday is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). The Louisville was carded as the finale on the 11-race card with a post time of 5:58 p.m.
Therapist, a former $50,000 claim by Dubb and trainer Mike Maker, defeated stablemate and fellow Louisville entrant Bay Street Money last time in the Pan American Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The 8-year-old gelded son of Freud began his career with trainer Christophe Clement where he was victorious in eight stakes from 2017-20. Therapist was claimed for $80,000 in September by trainer George Weaver and subsequently claimed by trainer Martin Drexler before Maker's claim in January.
Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. will have the mount from post No. 7. Maker previously won the Louisville in 2013 with Dark Cove.
Therapist's aforementioned stablemate Bay Street Money is also entered in the Louisville. Owned by Sanford Goldfarb, Bay Street Money finished just three-quarters of a length behind Therapist in the Pan American when he rallied from 11 lengths off the early pace.
Jockey Rey Gutierrez has the call from post 2.
Other classy horses that entered the Louisville include Stuart Janney III's multiple graded stakes placed Limited Liability, Brookdale Racing's 2022 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Tiz the Bomb and Team Block's multiple stakes winner Another Mystery.
The complete field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):
- Limited Liability (James Graham, Shug McGaughey III);
- Bay Street Money (Gutierrez, Maker);
- Mount Rundle (Walter Rodriguez, Michelle Nihei);
- Tiz the Bomb (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek);
- English Conqueror (Julien Leparoux, Darwin Banach);
- Time for Trouble (Joe Talamo, Jeff Hiles);
- Therapist (Santana, Maker);
- Yamato (Isaac Castillo, Maker);
- Another Mystery (Jareth Loveberry, Mickey Goldfine);
- Foreign Relations (Declan Cannon, Conor Murphy); and
- Smokey Lee (David Cohen, Waylon Cundiff).
Saturday also is the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico. Guests are invited to stay after the finale to watch a live simulcast of the Preakness on the Big Board. Post time for the Preakness is 7:01 p.m., approximately one hour after the final race at Churchill Downs.
Following dark days Monday-Wednesday, the Spring Meet at Churchill Downs will continue Thursday for Twilight Thursday. First post is 5 p.m. Guests will be able to enjoy the eight-race program by indulging in $2 domestic beer, live music and local food truck fare.
Friday is the first Downs After Dark of the Spring Meet. The theme for the night racing event is “Saddles and Sneakers” where guests are encouraged to flex their favorite pair of sneakers, engage with local artists and dance along with their favorite local DJs while gambling on 11 races. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and tickets are available on www.churchilldowns.com.
Before guests venture to Churchill Downs, they are encouraged to visit https://www.churchilldowns.com/visit/info/maps-and-directions because of facility changes due to construction on the new $200 million Paddock.
The post Former $50,000 Claim Therapist Headlines 11 Turf Marathoners In Churchill’s Louisville Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
