Churchill Downs

It will be a hugely important weekend for trainer Kenny McPeek as Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and Mystik Dan (Goldencents) will be in action Saturday at Churchill Downs. Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna will be heavy favorite in the GII Fleur De Lis Stakes, while 2024 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan faces a tough assignment in a loaded GI Stephen Foster Stakes. To talk about the two biggest stars in his barn, his hiring of Jimmy Jerkens and even his new tattoo, McPeek was the Gainesway Guest of...

It will be a hugely important weekend for trainer Kenny McPeek as Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and Mystik Dan (Goldencents) will be in action Saturday at Churchill Downs. Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna will be heavy favorite in the GII Fleur De Lis while 2024 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan faces a tough assignment in a loaded GI Stephen Foster Stakes. To talk about the two biggest stars in his barn, his hiring of Jimmy Jerkens and even his new tattoo, McPeek was the Gainseway Guest of the...

3rd-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:43 p.m. The juveniles kick things off at Churchill Downs Friday with a well-bred pair drawn side by side. Widest of the two is MO LAKE TIME (Uncle Mo), the first foal out of the American Pharoah mare Lake Garda who sold for $600,000 to H & R Bloodstock carrying Mo Lake Time in utero at KEENOV in 2022. While unraced herself, Lake Garda is a half-sister to MGISW Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) and MGISW Executiveprivilege (First Samurai). Bred by Boardshorts Breeding and Racing,...

Two weeks after Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) threatened to pull out of racing at Fair Grounds in New Orleans and one week after the gaming company extracted purse-cut concessions from the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (LAHBPA), the Louisiana State Racing Commission (LSRC) on Tuesday approved 76 November-through-March race dates for the 2025-26 meet at historic New Orleans track. CDI had informed the commission by letter June 9 it wanted to voluntarily surrender its Fair Grounds license because a March state Supreme Court decision and two recent pieces of...

4th-CD, $120,000, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 2:23 p.m. Flying Dutchmen's WHERE LUCK LIVES (Nyquist) gets a start for trainer Brian Lynch. A $725,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select yearling purchase, the dark bay is out of SW and GISP Holiday Soiree (Harlan's Holiday). The mare, who sold for $300,000 at Keeneland November in 2023, is already responsible for Grade I scorer Vahva (Gun Runner), who most recently won the GII Chicago Stakes at this venue last weekend in addition to GSP Signal From Noise (Arrogate). TJCIS PPs

It's been a long time between drinks for Vahva (Gun Runner), the 2024 GI Derby City Distaff Stakes winner whose last career win came exactly a year ago in the Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs, when it was a Grade III event. Upgraded to Grade II this year, the Chicago Stakes was targeted by Vahva's connections after the now-5-year-old made no impact in this year's edition of the Derby City Distaff. Irad Ortiz, Jr. kept her a little closer to the pace than usual in the Chicago, as she tracked...

GI Kentucky Derby hero Mystik Dan (Goldencents) will square off against old foe, GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic winner, and 'TDN Rising Star Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), plus G1 Dubai World Cup champ Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) and GISW sprinter and 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) in next Saturday's 44th running of the $1-million GI Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, which is a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic. The last time Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone faced one another was in the 2024...

The form of the GI Derby City Distaff has already been franked on a couple of occasions over the last several weeks, and a pair of also-rans from the Derby undercard contest will look to further flatter the race when they square off in the GII Chicago Stakes beneath the Saturday night lights on the 'Downs After Dark' program in Louisville. Stonestreet Stables' Emery (More Than Ready) won four of her five starts at three last season, including a two-length defeat of My Mane Squeeze (Audible) in Keeneland's GII Raven...

2nd-Churchill Downs, $112,927, Msw, 6-20, 2yo, 5fT, :56.33, fm, 5 1/2 lengths. LONGSHOREMAN (c, 2, Twirling Candy--Lady Pauline, by Munnings) squandered a four-length advantage in the final furlong to finish a disappointing and money-burning second to Listed Windsor Castle Stakes also-ran Tough Critic (Caravaggio) on Keeneland debut Apr. 24. The betting public's darling here at 1-2, the $260,000 Keeneland September graduate was in front in a matter of strides and took them along at a solid early gallop. Awaiting word from Irad Ortiz, Jr. as they neared the entrance to...

Appearing to lose all chance after a super-awkward start from the inside post, Meringue (Frosted) slowly reeled in her rivals over the course of Churchill's five-furlong turf test and was up just in time to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors Thursday afternoon. Breaking from post 1, the grey was eased to the back of the field as 3-2 favorite Delightful Darling (Flameaway) went to the front, cutting out an opening quarter of :22.19 as Vibora (Hootenanny) pressed the issue in a close-up second. With those two fillies turned for home...

GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) returned to the Churchill Downs work tab Sunday with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., preparing for a likely start in the $1-million GI Stephen Foster Stakes June 28. Mystik Dan, who won the GII Blame Stakes on May 31, breezed at 7:15 a.m. EST. He began his move with a three-furlong split of :36.80 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Owned by 4 G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby and...

Take Charge Milady (f, 3, Take Charge Indy--Price too High, by Scat Daddy) defeated returning champion Immersive (Nyquist) by a neck in a thrilling renewal of Saturday's Monomoy Girl S. at Churchill Downs. The latter, sidelined due to bone bruising and off as the 2-5 favorite in a scratched-down field of four, was making her first start since capping a four-for-four season in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. Take Charge Milady, winner of the Martha Washington S., second in the GI Ashland S. and 12th in...