Churchill Downs race results

All the buzz was on the highly-anticipated debut of the Flightline colt Greenwell, but it was Balloteer (Early Voting) who sped to the lead and never looked back to earn 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors at Churchill. Catching a flier out of the gate, the juvenile sped out to control the tempo through :22.43 and four panels in :45.06 coming off the bend, and entered the stretch with a clear advantage over even-money favorite Greenwell. Racing greenly on his left lead through the lane, Balloteer managed to keep...

Stonestreet Stables' Lady Jancis (Speightstown) took plenty of heat dueling inside on a strong pace on Keeneland turf-sprint debut Oct. 11 and stuck on well to be fourth beaten just under two lengths. Returning in the Wednesday finale at Churchill Downs as the 3-5 chalk and looking to become the fifth next-out winner from that first run, the beautifully bred dark bay gave those who swallowed the skinny price very little to worry about, cruising on the engine throughout en route to a much-the-best victory. Winner of the 2016 G3...

Flying Dutchmen Breeding & Racing's Banana Frost (Authentic) capped a promising worktab with a half-mile drill in :47 4/5 from the gate on May 31 and was sent off as the 7-4 second favorite to open her account at first asking Wedensday at Churchill Downs for a barn that is in 'flying' form. Off like a shot from the inside stall, the homebred quickly opened up on her rivals, covering the first couple of furlongs in :22.41. Making the running in the two path, Banana Frost was clear into the...

When you're the half-brother to a multiple Grade I winner, expectations are always high, but Leading Change (Gun Runner) took a big first step to filling those shoes with a dazzling debut at Churchill Downs to earn a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' nod. Selling for the princely price of $800,000 as a yearling at the 2024 Keeneland September sale, the son of Gun Runner had a respectable worktab under his belt by the time he was entered for this contest. Drawn to the far outside, the post made...

Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado (Gun Runner), last seen finishing a disappointing 11th as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby, got some consolation under the Twin Spires with an authoritative victory in the GIII Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs Sunday. Sent off the 3-5 favorite, Further Ado broke sharply and tracked pacesetting Pavlovian (Pavel) through a moderate quarter in :23.69 and a quickened half in :46.69. Further Ado coasted easily to the lead midway on the far turn and turned for home two lengths in front through three-quarters in...

There was nothing stealthy about her leap into the air at the break but it didn't matter late as the eye-catching Sneakily (Tapit) went last to first to secure the TDN stamp of approval as the newest 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' at Churchill. The grey was debuted at Ellis Park Aug. 18 and had the misfortune of having to close on an uncontested leader. Having spent most of her time near the rear of the field after she broke slowly and was bumped around, Sneakily came home from...

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Explora (Blame) returned to her winning ways on Sunday with a confident victory in the Leslie's Lady Stakes at Churchill Downs. Off here at even-money, Explora found herself in a familiar position at the head of affairs, but had persistent company in Brooklyn Blonde (Gun Runner) through an opening quarter in :22.72 and a half-mile in :45.07. Turning that one away heading for home, Explora dug deep to fend off an oncoming rush from On Time Girl, but kept her at bay by a...

Calumet Farm homebred Original Sin (Curlin) was sent into the lead fully three furlongs from home in Saturday's GIII Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs and just managed to fend off Ohio-bred Who Dey (Liam's Map) for his first win at the black-type level. Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) was locked away in traffic for the first half of the stretch run and by the time he was able to shake loose, was only able to fill out the bottom of the triple in a race that had everyone seeing gray....

It was reported earlier in the week that Boyd Racing and By Talla Racing's Splendora (Audible) would not take her spot in the field for Saturday's GII Shawnee Stakes on Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs. Ultimately--and to the surprise of most--she was given her chance by trainer Bob Baffert and the reigning GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner sat a pace-pressing trip, easily seeing out the 8 1/2-furlong trip to validate 6-5 favoritism. The Maryland-bred showed good pace from gate five, but was beaten to the...

Gervais Racing's American Man (Maclean's Music) was overshadowed on paper and on the tote by 'TDN Rising Stars' presented by Hagyard Munnings Challenge (Munnings) and Doublecents (Goldencents), but capitalized on a stalk-and-pounce trip to win for the second time in three career appearances. The $120,000 KEESEP yearling turned $475,000 OBS April breezer led throughout to graduate at first asking as the favorite at Oaklawn Mar. 17, but any chances of another speed try were dashed when he was bothered at the break of a first-level allowance in Hot Springs Apr....

Six days after Decisive Win made light work of his first two-turn test en route to 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard honors at Santa Anita, Flying Dutchmen Breeding & Racing's Where Luck Lives (f, 3, Nyquist--Holiday Soiree, by Harlan's Holiday) made all the running to take a salty first-level allowance Thursday evening at Churchill Downs to also earn 'Rising Star' laurels. Exiting a defeat of next-out 'Rising Star' Movie Night (Speightstown) in a sloppy Keeneland maiden Apr. 3, the $725,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase caught a flyer from gate five...

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Epic Reign (Epicenter) became the first winner for her freshman sire (by Not This Time) Thursday evening at Churchill Downs, coming from off the pace to score by a widening margin on the wire. Sent out by the same ownership that campaigned Epicenter to victories in the 2022 GII Jim Dandy Stakes and GI Travers Stakes, Epic Reign jumped as the 19-5 third choice and was outsprinted through the opening exchanges following a sluggish beginning from a wide draw. Last into the turn following a quarter in...