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Churchill: King Fury Features In Bourbon Trail, Irish Unity Tops Harrods Creek

Three Chimneys Farm's 2021 Lexington Stakes (Grade 3) winner King Fury headlines a field of seven 3-year-olds that were entered in Saturday's inaugural running of the $275,000 Bourbon Trail Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The Bourbon Trail, run at 1 3/16 miles, will go as Race 9 at 4:55 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m. The Saturday program also features the $275,000 Dogwood (Listed) and $275,000 Harrods Creek.

King Fury has run against some of the nation's top 3-year-old colts this year, including his most-recent fifth-place effort behind top Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) rated horse Essential Quality in the $1.25 million Travers (G1). Trained by Kenny McPeek, the son of Curlin broke his maiden at Churchill Downs on debut and scored a half-length victory in the $98,000 Street Sense last fall.

King Fury's 3-year-old campaign includes a 2 ¾-length victory in the $200,000 Lexington (G3) and a runner-up finish to Masqueparade in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3). King Fury will be reunited with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. for Saturday's race, who has been aboard the chestnut colt for all three of his victories. The duo will break from post No. 4.

Also entered in the Bourbon Trail is Rupp Racing's stakes winner Gagetown. Trained by Brad Cox, Gagetown most recently finished third in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby and $250,000 Iowa Derby. The son of Exaggerator won the $50,000 Prairie Mile in June. Martin Garcia will ride from the rail.

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

  1. Gagetown (Garcia, Cox)
  2. King's Ovation (Joe Talamo, Dale Romans)
  3. Dr Jack (Tyler Gaffalione, Todd Pletcher)
  4. King Fury (Hernandez, McPeek)
  5. Angkor (Adam Beschizza, Phil Bauer)
  6. Bourbon Thunder (Chris Landeros, Ian Wilkes)
  7. Sermononthemount (James Graham, Tom Amoss)

Clearview Stable's recent $250,000 St. Louis Derby runner-up Irish Unity tops a competitive field of 10 3-year-old colts and geldings that was entered in Saturday's first-running of the $275,000 Harrods Creek at Churchill Downs.

The seven-furlong Harrods Creek will go as Race 10 with a post time of 5:26 p.m. First post for the 11-race program is 12:45 p.m. Along with the Harrods Creek, the Saturday card will feature the $275,000 Dogwood (Listed) and the $275,000 Bourbon Trail.

Irish Unity, conditioned by North American and Churchill Downs' all-time leading trainer Steve Asmussen, has not finished worse than second in four career starts. The consistent son of Pioneerof the Nile won his first two starts in June at Lone Star prior to shipping to Asmussen's Kentucky string. The homebred finished second to Beaver Hat in a conditioned allowance event at Ellis Park before his runner-up effort to Flash of Mischief in last month's St. Louis Derby. Brian Hernandez Jr. will have the return mount from post No. 7.

Also entered in the Harrods Creek is Wayne Davis' four-time Louisiana-based gelding Emerald Forest. Trained by Shane Wilson, Emerald Forest dominated his two most recent starts by a combined 18 lengths at Evangeline Downs and Louisiana Downs. In those starts, Emerald Forest earned stout Brisnet.com speed ratings of 100 and 105, respectively. Jose Guerrero, who's based at Louisiana Downs, will travel to Kentucky for the mount and will break from post 5.

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

  1. Dreamer's Disease (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro)
  2. Ram (Rafael Bejarano, D. Wayne Lukas)
  3. Bob's Edge (Adam Beschizza, Larry Jones)
  4. He'smyhoneybadger (Martin Garcia, Brad Cox)
  5. Emerald Forest (Guerrero, Wilson)
  6. Shadow Matter (Corey Lanerie, Dallas Stewart)
  7. Irish Unity (Hernandez, Asmussen)
  8. Wolfie's Dynaghost (Tyler Gaffalione, Tom Albertrani)
  9. Flags Up (James Graham, Jimmy Baker)
  10. Everett's Song (Pablo Morales, Dale Bennett)

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Undefeated Carribean Caper Headlines Saturday’s $275,000 Dogwood

Columbine Stable's undefeated 3-year-old filly Carribean Caper will attempt to land her fifth consecutive victory Saturday as the likely favorite in the 46th running of the $275,000 Dogwood Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

The seven-furlong Dogwood drew a compact field of seven 3-year-old fillies and was carded as Race 8 with a post time of 4:22 p.m. (all times Eastern). Saturday's 11-race card features a stakes trio including the inaugural runnings of the $275,000 Bourbon Trail and $275,000 Harrods Creek, both for 3-year-olds. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Al Stall Jr., Carribean Caper began her career at Fair Grounds with a scintillating eight-length score. The daughter of Speightstown then cruised to a 4 ½-length first-level allowance victory at Keeneland. Following three months away from the races, Carribean Caper returned in a conditioned allowance event at Ellis Park where she dominated four rivals by 4 ½ lengths. In her most recent start, the Kentucky-bred defeated Magic Quest by one-length in the $100,000 Audubon Oaks at Ellis. Colby Hernandez, who has been aboard Carribean Caper for all four of her lifetime starts, will ride from post No. 2.

Saturday's Dogwood field also includes Joel Politi's Li'l Tootsie and Let It Ride Stables' Shesa Mystery, who are both graded stakes placed in their young careers.

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

  1. Coppelia (Martin Garcia, Phil Bauer)
  2. Carribean Caper (Hernandez, Stall)
  3. Li'l Tootsie (James Graham, Tom Amoss)
  4. Malloy (Joe Talamo, Wayne Catalano)
  5. Shesa Mystery (Miguel Mena, Jeff Hiles)
  6. Patty H (Julien Leparoux, Mike Miceli)
  7. Someone Said So (Adam Beschizza, Coty Rosin)

Racing at Churchill Downs continues Thursday-Sunday. Thursday's eight-race card has a first post of 5 p.m. for Twilight Thursday presented by Blue Moon. The evening features $1 Blue Moon and select domestic beer, local food trucks and live music from Kr8vN8vs. Racing on Friday-Sunday will have a first post of 12:45 p.m. Tickets and more information for racing this week can be found at www.ChurchillDowns.com/tickets.

Fans who are unable to make it to Churchill Downs for the races can download and watch all the action on the Churchill Downs LIVE app. The Churchill Downs LIVE app is available free of charge on Amazon, Apple TV and Roku and features full access to the HD live stream of the Churchill Downs simulcast signal and three additional angles including the Saddling Paddock.

Select action from Saturday's card at Churchill Downs are also scheduled to air from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 2 as part of “America's Day at the Races.”

Wagering is available on www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated and its family of racetracks.

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Asmussen Hopes Stellar Tap Adds Another Memorable Win In Saturday’s Iroquois

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen arguably recorded one of the most memorable wins in his career when 2-year-old colt Stellar Tap broke his maiden last month at Saratoga to vault the 55-year-old conditioner past Dale Baird as North America's all-time leading trainer. Five weeks later, Stellar Tap is poised to tackle stakes company as the 3-1 favorite in Saturday night's $300,000 Iroquois (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs.

“We've been planning on that win for a long time,” Asmussen said. “It was better than anticipated. It was a wonderful moment with the entire family and we've relived it several times since.”

Owned by L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds, Stellar Tap broke his maiden by 5 ¼ lengths under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. The Tapit colt is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Gioia Stella, who is the half-sister to graded stakes winners Nereid and Sea Queen.

Also entered in the Iroquois is Stellar Tap's stablemate Guntown. Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Guntown broke his maiden in his second start at Ellis Park. He is by the first crop of 2-year-olds from the former Asmussen-trained superstar Gun Runner.

“I couldn't be a bigger fan of Gun Runner,” Asmussen said. “I am surprised how good they are so soon. They trained really well in spring and continue to develop. Our colt Gunite, who won the Hopeful, took a couple of times to break his maiden. I do think it's a good sign the further they go, the faster they get.”

Saturday's 1 1/16-mile Iroquois kicks off the “Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve” and awards the Top 4 finishers 10-4-2-1 points for the first Saturday in May. The winner of the Iroquois will also get an automatic berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on Future Stars Friday at the Breeders' Cup. The Breeders' Cup World Championships are scheduled to be held on Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar.

The Iroquois was carded as Race 9 with a post time of 10:11 p.m. The first of 11 races will begin at 6 p.m. The other stakes events on the evening's program are the $300,000 Pocahontas (G3), $400,000 Locust Grove (G3), $300,000 Open Mind and $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society.

The complete field for the Iroquois from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Tough to Tame (Sophie Doyle, Chris Davis, 20-1); Lucky Boss (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 10-1); Roger McQueen (Adam Beschizza, Larry Rivelli, 10-1); Strike Hard (Leonel Reyes, Matthew Williams, 10-1); Magnolia Midnight (Corey Lanerie, Dallas Stewart, 12-1); Stellar Tap (Santana, Asmussen, 3-1); Red Knobs (James Graham, Dale Romans, 20-1); Major General (Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 4-1); Guntown (Tyler Gaffalione, Asmussen, 9-2); Husband Material (Florent Geroux, Jimmy Toner, 15-1); and Bourbon Heist (Joe Talamo, Ian Wilkes, 9-2).

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's Iroquois Stakes entrant Major General and Pocahontas runner Goddess of Fire arrived to Churchill Downs from New York around 4:30 a.m. Friday. Jockey Javier Castellano is scheduled to be in Louisville on Saturday for the riding assignments.

The Pocahontas is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The 1 1/16-mile race is carded as Race 8 at 9:39 p.m.

The complete Pocahontas field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, morning line odds): Code for Success (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver, 20-1); Goddess of Fire (Castellano, Pletcher, 6-1); Mama Rina (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 12-1); Ontheonesandtwos (Ricardo Santana Jr., Norm Casse, 5-2); Majestic d'Oro (Martin Garcia, Brendan Walsh, 8-1); Kneesnhips (James Graham, Tom Amoss, 8-1); Miss Chamita (Gregory Romero, Michel Doualhy, 30-1); Hidden Connection (Reylu Gutierrez, Bret Calhoun, 9-2); Lemieux (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Cassse, 10-1); and Joyrunner (Joe Ramos, Laura Wohlers, 10-1).

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All-Stakes Cross Country Pick 5 Features Racing From Belmont, Churchill, Woodbine

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host an all-stakes Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring action from Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Woodbine Racetrack.

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.

Saturday's sequence will kick off with a pair of Turf Triple series events from Belmont beginning with the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational in Race 9 at 5:14 p.m.

The Jockey Club Oaks, a 1 3/8-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies, features European invaders Creative Flair and Harajuku taking on five American-based contenders led by the Chad Brown-trained duo of Higher Truth and Shantisara.

The $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational [Race 10, 5:45 p.m.] for sophomores at 12 furlongs, features Grade 1-winner Bolshoi Ballet, who captured the Grade 1 Belmont Derby here for trainer Aidan O'Brien in July.

Providing steep opposition in the “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1, $4 million Longines Turf in November at Del Mar are recent Group 2-winner Yibir, a Godolphin homebred trained by Charlie Appleby; and Belmont Derby runner-up Tokyo Gold conditioned by Satoshi Kobayashi for owner-breeder Teruya Yoshida.

The middle leg will feature the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile [Race 10, 6:12 p.m.], contested at one turn on the E. P. Taylor Turf Course and featuring a trio of runners from Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in March to the Arch, Olympic Runner and Ride a Comet. The Brown-trained Raging Bull, who was placed third in the 2019 Woodbine Mile, will look to add a fourth Grade 1 win to his ledger. The winner will receive a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile.

The sequence will conclude with a pair of 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 events for 2-year-olds from the evening card at Churchill Downs both offering “Win and You're In” berths to the Breeders' Cup in November at Del Mar led by the Pocahontas for juvenile fillies in Race 8 at 9:39 p.m.

A talented field includes James McIngvale's Joyrunner, a Gun Runner chestnut, who is perfect in two starts at Indiana Grand for trainer Laura Wohlers. Hidden Connection, condition by Bret Calhoun, garnered a field-best 84 Beyer Speed Figure in a 7 1/2-length debut romp sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs at Colonial Downs, while the Norm Casse-trained Ontheonesandtwos will look to make amends following an off-the-board effort in the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle a pair of top juveniles in Stellar Tap and Guntown in the Iroquois [Race 9, 10:11 p.m.] to conclude the sequence.

Stellar Tap, a $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by Tapit, romped by 5 1/4-lengths on debut sprinting seven furlongs on August 7 at Saratoga. Guntown, by Gun Runner and purchased for $750,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, graduated at second asking in a one-mile maiden special weight at Ellis Park.

The improving Roger McQueen, by Unified, was a last out winner of the Runhappy Ellis Park Juvenile for trainer Larry Rivelli, garnering a 70 Beyer in the seven-furlong sprint. Roger McQueen was a $530,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle $420,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase Major General, a dark bay son of Constitution, for his stakes debut following a first-out win sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs in August at the Spa.

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 – Saturday, September 18:
Leg A: Belmont Park-Race 9, Jockey Club Oaks (5:14 p.m.)
Leg B: Belmont Park- Race 10, Jockey Club Derby (5:45 p.m.)
Leg C: Woodbine -Race 10, G1 Woodbine Mile (6:12 p.m.)
Leg D: Churchill -Race 8, G3 Pocahontas (9:39 p.m.)
Leg E: Churchill-Race 9, G3 Iroquois (10:11 p.m.)

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