Nathan McCauley, Michael Olszewski and William Minton's Wise Dan Stakes (Grade 2) winner Stitched headlines an over-subscribed field of 15 turf specialists that entered Saturday's 44th running of the $300,000 River City Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The 1 1/8-mile River City, scheduled to be run on the Matt Winn Turf Course, was carded as Race 10 of 11 with a post time of 5:35 p.m. (all times Eastern). Along with the River City, Saturday's program also will feature the 18th running of the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed). First post is 1 p.m.
Trained by Greg Foley, Stitched achieved his biggest honors winning the Wise Dan three starts ago at Ellis Park. The 4-year-old son of Mizzen Mast has won six races overall and also sports stakes victories in last year's Caesar's and Mystic Lake Derby. Jockey Florent Geroux will be in the irons from post No. 9.
Among the other rivals entered to face Stitched is Calumet Farm's three-time winner Cellist. Trained by Rusty Arnold, Cellist nearly led gate-to-wire three weeks ago in the 1 ½-mile Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland but was caught in the last jump by Bold Act. Cellist will break from the rail under Martin Garcia.
Here is the complete River City field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):
- Cellist (Garcia, Arnold);
- F Five (James Graham Brian Lynch);
- Red Run (Ricardo Santana Jr., Mike Maker);
- Rockemperor (IRE) (Tyler Gaffalione, Chad Brown);
- Kitodan (Alex Achard, Eric Foster);
- Smokin' T (John Velazquez, Shug McGaughey);
- Dominican Pioneer (Gerardo Corrales, Wesley Ward);
- Grand Sonata (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher);
- Stitched (Geroux, Foley);
- Injunction (Rafael Bejarano, Carlo Vaccarezza);
- Siege of Boston (Jorge Ruiz, Jimmy Toner); and
- Harlan Estate (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman).
Also-eligibles: Accredit (Luan Machado, Pavel Matejka); Beatbox (Cristian Torres, Cherie DeVaux); and Street Ready (Luis Saez, Mike Maker).
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.
Live racing from Churchill Downs continues through Nov. 26 on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule. Daily first post is 1 p.m. with the exception of Thanksgiving Day which has an early 11:30 a.m. start.
The post Wise Dan Winner Stitched Headlines Full Field In Saturday’s River City appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
