Churchill Downs
6th-Churchill Downs, $79,465, Alw, 6-27, (NW1X), 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.74, ft. PARIS LIGHTS (f, 3, Curlin--Paris Bikini, by Bernardini), sent off the 3-5 choice, settled in a two-wide second behind Enjoyitwhilewecan (Quality Road) through splits of :24.56 and :48.59. Taking over approaching the quarter pole, the WinStar hombred was clear in upper stretch and rolled home a 3 1/4-length winner over the pacesetter. Subsequent to Paris Lights, dam Paris Bikini foaled Cousteau, a colt by Into Mischief, and a filly by Distorted Humor last season. She produced a colt...
4th-Churchill Downs, $80,750, Msw, 6-27, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.70, ft. WHISKEY DOUBLE (c, 2, Into Mischief--Lake Sebago {MSW, $243,225}, by Munnings), an $875,000 KEESEP buy, was sent off the 7-5 choice in this unveiling and settled in a stalking position as Medicine Tail (Kantharos) led through initial fractions of :21.81 and :45.78. Three wide turning for home, the Steve Asmussen trainee took aim in upper stretch and wore down the 7-2 shot late to score by 3/4 of a length. Windcracker (Super Saver) was third. The bay's dam is MSW Lake...
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency PAIR OF WELL-BRED DEBUTANTES IN CHURCHILL OPENER 1st-CD, $79K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:00p.m. The appropriately named LUCKY FIND (Uncle Mo), a $50,000 KEESEP buy from a deep Helen Groves family, makes her career bow in this spot for Glen Hill Farm and Tom Proctor. Out of MSW Tea Time (Pulpit), the bay hails from the family of dual champion Covfefe (Into Mischief) and Grade I winners Arch (Kris S.) and Acoma (Empire Maker). Robert and Lawana Low homebred Sea Garden (Curlin) also debuts in...
FABRICATE (f, 2, Speightster--Counterfactual, by Scat Daddy) entered this debut off a best-of-20 half-mile in :48 2/5 in the mud here June 22 and was bet down to 5-2 from a 5-1 morning-line quote. Keeping tabs from third through a :21.89 first quarter, the dark bay split rivals as the half went in :45.16 and forged clear in mid-stretch. Stablemate Bahama Mischief (Into Mischief) tried to make a race of it in the end, but was too late, finishing a half-length back in second. Fabricate is the second winner for...
A full and competitive field of 13 sophomore fillies are set to line up at Churchill Downs Saturday for the GIII Regret S. Earning her diploma by eight lengths at second asking in France in December, Crystal Cliffs (Fr) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) was privately purchased and transferred to U.S.-based conditioner Graham Motion. She captured her first race in these shores in a nine-panel Churchill allowance May 31. Dominga (Ghostzapper) looks to return to winning ways in this test after finishing sixth last time in the one-mile Tepin S. here. Prior...
Tom's d'Etat (Smart Strike) has been on a streak over the last few months and is heavily favored on the morning-line to secure his fourth straight victory in Saturday's GII Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs, which grants the winner a spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Capturing a sloppy renewal of the GII Fayette S. at Keeneland in October, the bay followed suit with a decisive score in the track-and-trip GI Clark S. Nov. 29. He kicked off 2020 with a 3/4-length score in...
Stonestreet Stables homebred Cazadero (Street Sense) looks to make good on his 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy debut in the GIII Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs Saturday, the first graded event of the season for juveniles. The Steve Asmussen trainee demolished the field in his five-panel unveiling here, earning his diploma by 8 3/4 lengths May 29, good enough to earn an 81 Beyer Speed Figure. The Hall of Fame conditioner also saddles Hulen (Tapiture), a 1 1/2-length debut graduate beneath the Twin Spires June 12. Peter Miller ships Herd Immunity...
After finishing a valiant second to fellow champion Maximum Security (New Year's Day) in the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 29, Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) makes her first start back on U.S. soil in Saturday's GII Fleur de Lis H. at Churchill Downs, a "Win and You're In" event for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. The dark bay dominated the distaff division last season, winning seven straight graded races, including the GI Apple Blossom H., GI Ogden Phipps S. and GI Personal Ensign S. The Eclipse winner suffered her only loss...
The Sept 5 GI Kentucky Derby will be held with a limited amount of spectators in the stands, it was announced Thursday by Churchill Downs. "We are happy to announce that we will conduct Derby week with fans," Churchill Downs President Kevin Flanery said. "It's going to be a different experience. This is a different year." Churchill's plans to conduct the races with fans was approved by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and state health officials. The Derby was moved from its traditional spot, the first Saturday in May, to September...
Since the last TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10, Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) won the GII Santa Anita Oaks and Gamine (Into Mischief) dominated in the GI Acorn S. Two very good fillies, they have moved to the head of the class and no one else comes close. A Swiss Skydiver-Gamine showdown in the GI Kentucky Oaks would make it one of the best races of the year. With more than two months left before the Oaks, most in the group will have at least one more prep. The GI Ashland July...
After submitting its proposal to allow fans to attend this year's GI Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs officials are expecting to hear back from Governor Andy Beshear this week. At his press briefing Monday, Beshear said he is reviewing Churchill's proposal and would announce a decision shortly. Alluding to the GI Belmont S., where fans were not allowed in the stands, Beshear said he envisioned that the Kentucky Derby will be "different" than the Belmont. "I believe that Churchill Downs made a very good decision to move the race," the governor...
Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) will run next in the GII Ruffian S. on July 11 at Belmont Park, reports trainer Brad Cox. The champion 3-year-old filly of 2018, Monomoy Girl was sidelined for nearly a year and a half before making a successful return to the races with a May 16 allowance win at Churchill Downs. Like the Ruffian, her comeback race was a one-turn mile event. "She's really training well and we feel like the one-turn mile at Belmont will really suit her well right now and...