By Stefanie Grimm
Corporate Power (Curlin) out-finished the veteran Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) and a closing Baeza (McKinzie) to earn his first graded stakes win in Friday's GII Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs.
The 5-1 shot, making his third start here for trainer Steve Asmussen, was last second by just a half-length to classy Louisiana-bred Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) in the GII New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds March 21. As a 3-year with Shug McGaughey, he tried his hand on the Triple Crown trail with a narrow win in the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico. After running sixth in the GI Travers Stakes and fifth in the Discovery Stakes to close out 2024, he was sidelined for his entire 4-year-old season before joining the Asmussen barn to kick of 2026.
Drawn widest of the field, jockey Jose Ortiz had to guide Corporate Power wide to avoid a tightly-bunched trio of rivals all sent for the lead into the first turn. Settled nicely outside into fourth up the backstretch behind Nu What's New (Munnings) and East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro), he had to split horses into the far turn as 9-5 race favorite Baeza began to move up on his outside and Skippylongstocking also was picking it up against the rail.
On the bridle as the leaders shortened stride at the furlong pole, Corporate Power had to work to keep Skippy behind him on the rail all while Baeza was closing down the outside.
In a tight, driving finish, he just got his neck in front as it mattered with Skippy relegated to second and Baeza out of time in third.
A rider's objection was lodged by Tyler Gaffalione aboard Skippylongstocking against Jose Ortiz for interference in the stretch but that objection was disallowed by the stewards and the result stood.
“It was a good race for me and my horse,” Ortiz said. “We won it fair and square. There never should have been an objection. He (Tyler Gaffalione on Skippylongstocking) pushed out on me. I felt his hand on my shoulder. We won it fair.”
Asmussen added, “I'm so thankful for Mr. Adam of Courtlandt Farms. It wasn't exactly the best run into the first turn but it all worked out. I think this horse is a serious contender in the older horse division.”
Pedigree Note:
Now the sire of 69 graded stakes winner, Curlin continues to fire on all cylinders. The Stonestreet-bred Corporate Power, who impressed enough as a yearling to bring nearly seven-figures at Keeneland, is out of the Quality Road mare Road to Victory who went Stonestreet's way for $1.45 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The dam of two winners from three to race, Road to Victory has a 2-year-old Not This Time filly named Let Love Reign who sold to Flying Dutchman for $1 million at Keeneland September last year. She produced a Justify filly last year and returned to Not This Time for a 2026 colt.
O-Courtlandt Farms (Donald Adam); B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC; T-Steve Asmussen. Sales History: $925,000 ylg '22 KEESEP.
Friday, Churchill Downs
ALYSHEBA S. PRESENTED BY U.S. ARMY-GII, $750,000, Churchill Downs, 5-1, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:41.82, ft.
1–CORPORATE POWER, 118, h, 5, by Curlin
1st Dam: Road to Victory (GSW-USA, SW-Can, $248,336), by Quality Road
2nd Dam: Favoritism, by Tiznow
3rd Dam: Chaste, by Cozzene
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($925,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Courtlandt Farms (Donald Adam); B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen; J-Jose L Ortiz. $454,940. Lifetime Record: 10-4-3-0, $755,240. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Skippylongstocking, 123, h, 7, Exaggerator–Twinkling, by War Chant. ($15,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $37,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Daniel Alonso; B-Brushy Hill LLC (KY); T-Saffie A Joseph Jr. $147,400.
3–Baeza, 123, c, 4, McKinzie–Puca, by Big Brown. ($1,200,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-C R K Stable LLC & Grandview Equine; B-Grandview Equine (KY); T-William I Mott. $73,700.
Margins: NK, HF, 4 3/4. Odds: 5.60, 2.78, 1.83.
Also Ran: East Avenue, Nu What's New, Grande, Tappan Street. Scratched: Disruptor, Navajo Warrior. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Heading back to the barn a graded stakes winner 🏆 CORPORATE POWER (Curlin) fends off the veteran Skippylongstocking, and a closing Baeza, to win the GII Alysheba Stakes at @ChurchillDowns on the Oaks undercard.
Ridden by @jose93_ortiz. pic.twitter.com/BTtsBpDKv8
— TDN (@theTDN) May 1, 2026
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
