Tag: Churchill Downs

Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Includes Races From Belmont, Thistle, Churchill

The New York Racing Association Inc. [NYRA] will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring stakes action from Belmont Park, Thistledown and Churchill Downs.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/cross-country-wagers.

The sequence kicks off in Race 9 at Churchill Downs at 4:55 p.m. with a field of 11 juveniles sprinting six furlongs on the main track. Double Thunder, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, boasts the field's highest Beyer Speed Figure garnering a 60 when sprinting to a debut win on June 5 at Monmouth Park. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle a pair of contenders led by maiden winner Red Run and maiden Vodka N Water.

Action switches to Thistledown for the second leg as 11 sophomores do battle in the nine-furlong Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby [Race 9, 5:04 p.m.] The Pletcher-trained Promise Keeper, last out winner of the Grade 3 Peter Pan at Belmont, is listed as the 7-2 morning-line favorite. The experienced Keepmeinmind, trained by Robertino Diodoro, competed in two legs of the Triple Crown, closing to finish seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Grade 2 Preakness.

The middle leg will offer the $100,000 Wild Applause [Race 9, 5:12 p.m.], a one-mile Widener turf test for sophomore fillies from Belmont. Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will saddle a formidable pair in Group 3-winner Minaun and the improving Nevisian Sunrise. Offering steep opposition are the Grade 1-place Alda for trainer Graham Motion and the regally-bred Lovestruck, a half-sister to Scat Daddy, for Hall of Famer Bill Mott.

The final two legs of the sequence will come from the Closing Day card at Churchill Downs beginning with the Grade 2, $300,000 Wise Dan [Race 10, 5:26 p.m.], a 1 1/16-mile turf test for older horses led by the multiple graded stakes winning New York-bred Somelikeithotbrown for trainer Mike Maker. Hall of Famer Mark Casse will send out eight-time winner Ride a Comet in search of a fourth graded-stakes score.

Closing out the sequence is the nine-furlong Grade 2, $600,000 Stephen Foster [Race 11, 5:59 p.m.] for older horses at Churchill Downs. A talented field of nine is led by Godolphin homebred Maxfield, a multiple graded stakes winner who boasts six wins from seven starts.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 for Saturday, June 26
Leg A: Churchill Downs-Race 9, G3 $150K Bashford Manor (4:55 p.m.)
Leg B: Thistledown-Race 9, G3 $500K Ohio Derby (5:04 p.m.)
Leg C: Belmont Park- Race 9, $100K Wild Applause (5:12 p.m.)
Leg D: Churchill Downs -Race 10, G2 $300K Wise Dan (5:26 p.m.)
Leg E: Churchill Downs-Race 11, G2 $600K Stephen Foster (5:59 p.m.)

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Set Piece, Somelikeithotbrown Set To Clash In Saturday’s Wise Dan

Juddmonte's multiple stakes winner Set Piece (GB) along with Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable's two-time Grade 2 winner Somelikeithotbrown lead a field of 10 older horses that was entered in Saturday's $300,000 Wise Dan (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Named after multiple champion and two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, the 32nd running of the 1 1/16-mile turf event goes as Race 10 of 12 with a post time of 5:26 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m. The Wise Dan is one of seven stakes events on the fantastic closing day card at Churchill Downs. The program also features the $600,000 Stephen Foster (G2), $300,000 Fleur de Lis (G2), $150,000 Bashford Manor (G3), $150,000 Debutante (Listed), $150,000 Tepin and $150,000 War Chant.

Set Piece (GB), trained by Brad Cox, enters the Wise Dan on a two-race win streak. The 5-year-old gelded son of Dansili (GB) cruised to a dominating four-length victory in last month's $85,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes, the local prep for the Wise Dan. In his previous start, Set Piece (GB) defeated a field of eight in the one-mile $105,000 Opening Verse. Set Piece (GB) was formerly under the care of Hugo Palmer in Europe prior to Juddmonte shipping him to the U.S. in 2020. Overall, Set Piece (GB) has recorded eight wins from 15 starts with earnings of $257,044. Florent Geroux has the return call from the rail.

Two posts to the outside of Set Piece (GB) is seven-time winner Somelikeithotbrown. Trained by Mike Maker, Somelikeithotbrown won the $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park in 2019. More recently, the son of Big Brown recorded a one-length win in the $250,000 Dinner Party Stakes (G2) at Pimlico on the Preakness Stakes undercard. Jockey Jose Ortiz will have the call.

Other accomplished horses entered in the Wise Dan are Three Diamonds Farm's three-time Grade 3 winner Field Pass; and John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm's $175,000 Kennedy Road (G2) winner and $300,000 Maker's Mark Mile (G1) runner-up Ride a Comet.

The complete field for the Wise Dan from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

  1. Set Piece (GB) (Geroux, Cox)
  2. Mutakatif (IRE) (Mitchell Murrill, Alberta Davies)
  3. Somelikeithotbrown (Ortiz, Maker)
  4. Super Sol (Gabriel Saez, Juan Cano)
  5. Hierarchy (Adam Beschizza, Joe Sharp)
  6. Kentucky Ghost (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver)
  7. Ride a Comet (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse)
  8. Field Pass (Ricardo Santana Jr., Maker)
  9. Spooky Channel (John Velazquez, Jason Barkley)
  10. In Love (BRZ) (Joe Talamo, Paulo Lobo)

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Letruska Wheels Back In Three Weeks For Fleur De Lis

St. George Stable's multiple Grade 1 winner Letruska, widely regarded as the nation's top filly or mare, headlines a compact field of six in Saturday's 46th running of the $300,000 Fleur de Lis (Grade 2) at Churchill Downs.

The Fleur de Lis, at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up, is carded as Race 5 at 2:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). The first of 12 races will get underway at 12:45 p.m. The Fleur de Lis is one of seven stakes events on Saturday's closing day program at Churchill Downs. The other stakes are the $600,000 Stephen Foster (G2), $300,000 Wise Dan (G2), $150,000 Bashford Manor (G3), $150,000 Debutante (Listed), $150,000 Tepin and $150,000 War Chant.

The Fleur de Lis is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race for the $4 million Longines Distaff (G1) on Nov. 6 at Del Mar. The winner will receive an all entry fees paid berth to the season ending championship event.

Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska scored a front-running victory in the $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1) earlier this month on the Belmont Stakes undercard. The 5-year-old Super Saver mare has 14 wins from 18 lifetime starts including a victory in the $1 million Apple Blossom (G1) in April where she re-rallied against multiple champion Monomoy Girl.

“She's in a good condition to run,” Gutierrez said. “This is a very important race. We're going step by step for now and this is next race we had in mind. I know it's just 21 days from the (Ogden Phipps). When a horse wants to run and they're ready to run, we have to let them run. She's at Keeneland training and we're looking forward to getting her to Churchill.”

Gutierrez, who was a top trainer in his home country of Mexico, has been primarily training in the U.S. in 2021. Letruska's only blemish in her 5-year-old campaign was a runner-up effort to Shedaresthedevil in the $350,000 Azeri (G2).

Jose Ortiz has the mount in the Fleur de Lis from post position No. 6.

Among Letruska's challengers in the Fleur de Lis is Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Grade 2 winner Envoutante. Trained by Kenny McPeek, Envoutante cruised to a 4 ¼-length victory in last month's $150,000 Shawnee Stakes, the local prep for the Fleur de Lis on May 29.

Envoutante, a 4-year-old filly by Uncle Mo, finished 2 ¼ lengths behind Letruska in the Azeri. Arguably the biggest win in Envoutante's career was a six-length win in last year's $200,000 Falls City (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Her regular pilot Brian Hernandez Jr. will be in the saddle from post 4.

Another top filly that entered the Fleur de Lis is Robert and Lawana Low's $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff Match Series (G3) winner Spice Is Nice. The Curlin filly is a four-time winner for trainer Todd Pletcher. The regally-bred Spice Is Nice is out of Pletcher's former Grade 1-winning mare Dame Dorothy. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has the mount from post 5.

Also entered in the Fleur de Lis is Kueber Racing, Barlar LLC, Madaket Stables and Little Red Feather Racing's recent $200,000 Ruffian (G2) winner Vault. The Brad Cox trainee will attempt to get her first victory at 1 1/8 miles. The seven-time winning mare be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 3.

The complete field for the Fleur de Lis from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

  1. Point of Honor (Javier Castellano, Shug McGaughey)
  2. Antoinette (Florent Geroux, Bill Mott)
  3. Vault (Gaffalione, Cox)
  4. Envoutante (Hernandez, McPeek)
  5. Spice Is Nice (Velazquez, Pletcher)
  6. Letruska (Ortiz, Gutierrez)

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‘Fit And Happy’ Maxfield Faces Eight Rivals In Saturday’s Stephen Foster

Godolphin's multiple graded stakes-winning homebred Maxfield leads a field of nine older horses that were entered in Saturday afternoon's featured 40th running of the $600,000 Stephen Foster (Grade 2) – one of seven stakes events on the 12-race closing day program at Churchill Downs.

Saturday's first race is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Stephen Foster will go as Race 11 with a post time of 5:59 p.m. The supporting stakes on the card are the $300,000 Fleur de Lis (G2), $300,000 Wise Dan (G2), $150,000 Bashford Manor (G3), $150,000 Debutante (Listed), $150,000 Tepin and $150,000 War Chant.

The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The winner will receive an all entry fees paid berth to the season ending championship event on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Maxfield, a 4-year-old son of Kentucky Derby-winner Street Sense, won the $400,000 Alysheba (G2) eight weeks ago at Churchill Downs. Trained by Brendan Walsh, New York-based jockey Jose Ortiz has the call from post position No. 8.

“We shipped him up from Keeneland last week and worked an easy half-mile (at Churchill Downs),” Walsh said. “He did most of his work at Keeneland prior to the Foster. He's a fit and happy horse. We're ready to go and excited to get this race underway.”

Maxfield was on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in 2020 when he cruised to a one-length victory in the $150,000 Matt Winn (G3). Unfortunately, due to a condylar fracture following a workout at Keeneland, Maxfield went on the sidelines until the fall. Through seven lifetime starts, Maxfield has recorded six victories and boasts earnings of $908,782. The only blemish in his career came in the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) where he finished third to Idol.

Among Maxfield's rivals in the Stephen Foster is Tom Durant's five-time graded stakes winner Silver Dust. Trained by Bret Calhoun, Silver Dust was the half-length winner of the $150,000 Ben Ali (G3) at Keeneland. The 7-year-old son of Tapit was attempting to prep for the Foster in the $150,000 Blame at Churchill Downs on May 29 but was scratched after acting up in the starting gate. Since the Blame, Silver Dust returned to the work tab three times for Calhoun. Silver Dust finished third in last year's Stephen Foster behind Tom's d'Etat and By My Standards. Jockey Adam Beschizza, who has been aboard Silver Dust for his previous six starts, has the call from post 5.

The Estate of James Coleman Jr.'s Chess Chief finished third to Maxfield in the Alysheba and trainer Dallas Stewart will be hoping for redemption in the Stephen Foster. The four-time winner achieved graded stakes glory in March with a narrow victory over Owendale in the $400,000 New Orleans Classic (G2). Stewart enlisted the riding services of Hall of Famer John Velazquez for the Stephen Foster and the duo will break from the rail.

The other top entrants in Saturday's Stephen Foster are Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables' Grade 3 winner Warrior's Charge; Williamson Racings' two-time stakes winner Visitant; Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Peter Deutsch and Pantofel Stable's graded stakes placed South Bend; Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's stakes-placed Sprawl; Raymond Daniels, Wayne Scherr and Will Harbut Racing's recent allowance hero Necker Island; and Three Diamonds Farm's four-time winner Empty Tomb.

The complete field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

  1. Chess Chief (Velazquez, Stewart)
  2. Empty Tomb (Ricardo Santana Jr., Mike Maker)
  3. Necker Island (Mitchell Murrill, Chris Hartman)
  4. Sprawl (Brian Hernandez Jr., Tommy Drury Jr.)
  5. Silver Dust (Beschizza, Calhoun)
  6. Warrior's Charge (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox)
  7. South Bend (Tyler Gaffalione, Bill Mott)
  8. Maxfield (Ortiz, Walsh)
  9. Visitant (James Graham, Bill Morey)

Tickets are available for Saturday's closing day program online at www.churchilldowns.com/tickets. Admission gates will open at 11:30 a.m. and “Churchill Downs Today” will air at 11:45 a.m. throughout the racetrack and on www.TwinSpires.com, the official online wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

Saturday's program also will air on “America's Day at the Races” on Fox Sports 2 from 12:30-6:30 p.m.

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