Final Gambit in a Churchill Downs work. (Renee Torbit/Coady Media)
G3W Eclatant leads seven 3yo fillies in $175K Leslie’s Lady
Mystik Dan earns career best 103 Brisnet Speed Rating in Blame Stakes victory
Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky.– Kentucky Derby (Grade I) fourth-place finisher Final Gambit is set to take on a field of seven 3-year-olds, including fellow Derby alumni Burnham Square, East Avenue, Chunk of Gold and Coal Battle, in next Sunday’s 28th running of the $400,000 Matt Winn Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs.
The Matt Winn, run at 1 1/16 miles, is part of a Sunday stakes doubleheader that also includes the $175,000 Leslie’s Lady Overnight Stakes. First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Matt Winn going as Race 8 at 4:22 p.m. and the Leslie’s Lady as Race 5 at 2:45 p.m.
Juddmonte’s Final Gambit, who finished 4 ¼ lengths behind Sovereignty, Journalism and Baeza in the Derby, will make only his second start on dirt in the Matt Winn. Trained by Brad Cox, Final Gambit was a last-to-first winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) over the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park. Jockey Flavien Prat will ride the gray son of Not This Time out of post No. 2.
Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner Burnham Square, a troubled sixth in the Kentucky Derby, is one of three Grade I winners in the race along with East Avenue and Gaming. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Burnham Square had to check repeatedly in the stretch of the Derby and was defeated 10 ½ lengths. Prior to the Derby, Burnham Square got his nose down in front of East Avenue to win the Blue Grass at Keeneland. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will be in the saddle from post 5.
East Avenue, a homebred son of Medaglia d’Oro for Godolphin, turned heads as a 2-year-old after breaking his maiden by eighth lengths on debut at Ellis Park and then scoring a 5 ¼-length win in the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland. Following disappointing efforts in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) and Risen Star (GII), East Avenue qualified for the Kentucky Derby with his second-place finish in the Blue Grass. In the Kentucky Derby, the Brendan Walsh trainee tracked the early pace but faded to eighth, defeated 13 ¼ lengths. Jockey Luis Saez will have the call in the Matt Winn from post 7.
Terry Stephens’ Louisiana Derby (GII) runner-up Chunk of Gold enters the Matt Winn following a ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Ethan West, Chunk of Gold returned to his Turfway Park base following the Derby and posted a sharp :47 half-mile move Saturday morning, the fastest of 73 horses at the distance. Jockey Jareth Loveberry has the return call on Chunk of Gold and will break from post 3.
Five-time winner Coal Battle remained based at Churchill Downs following his 11th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Owned by Norman Stables and trained by Lonnie Briley, Coal Battle won the Smarty Jones (Listed) and Rebel Stakes (GII) at Oaklawn earlier this year. Jockey Corey Lanerie, who rode Coal Battle to a seventh-place finish on turf in the third start of his nine-race career, will have the call for the Matt Winn from post 6.
Grade III Winner Eclatant Leads Seven 3-Year-Old Fillies In $175,000 Leslie’s Lady
Stonestreet Stables’ Eclatant, winner of the Forward Gal (Grade III) in early February, headlines a field of seven 3-year-old fillies entered in next Sunday’s fourth running of the $175,000 Leslie’s Lady Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Run at seven furlongs, the Leslie’s Lady is the fifth race on the 10-race program which also includes the $400,000 Matt Winn (GIII) in Race 8. First post is 12:45 p.m. with the Leslie’s Lady scheduled to go at 2:45 p.m.
Trained by Brad Cox, Eclatant enters the Leslie’s Lady following a disappointing ninth-place finish as the 3-1 favorite in the Eight Belles (GII). The daughter of Into Mischief has three-career victories that include her debut maiden-breaking score one year ago at Churchill Downs, a first-level allowance race in early October at Keeneland and the Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park. Jockey Luis Saez will be in the irons from the rail.
Several other accomplished fillies entered the Leslie’s Lady including WinStar Farm’s Fern Creek Stakes winner Impulse Buy and Medallion Racing, Omar Aldabbagh, William Strauss, BlackRidge Stables and Schwing Thoroughbreds’ Debutante Stakes (Listed) winner Vodka With a Twist.
Field for the Leslie’s Lady Overnight
Mystik Dan Earns Career Best 103 Brisnet Speed Rating In Blame Stakes Victory
Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan returned to the winner’s circle Saturday at Churchill Downs with a 1 ¼-length victory in the $275,000 Blame Stakes (Grade III), earning a career-best 103 Brisnet Speed Rating.
Mystik Dan came out of the race in good shape, according to trainer Kenny McPeek’s staff Sunday morning. The colt could make his next start in the $1 million Stephen Foster (GI) on June 28 at Churchill Downs.
Mystik Dan became the first Kentucky Derby winner since Silver Charm, who won the 1998 Clark, to return to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs following their Derby triumph.
“I certainly think he’s bigger and stronger than he was as a 3-year-old – and he should be,” McPeek said. “His speed figures this year came back the fastest he’s ever run. He’s never had any soundness issues; it’s really not been a problem. I’m excited. We’re really going to have to analyze what we do going forward to get him to the Breeders’ Cup. I’m not sure if we’ll end up at Saratoga this summer – he didn’t really seem to like the track up there. I may point him toward a Kentucky fall campaign.”
Nominations for the Stephen Foster close Wednesday, June 11.
DOWN THE STRETCH … … …… …….
Sunday’s 10-race card got underway at 12:45 p.m. and featured a $368,887 carryover in the Derby City 6 Jackpot that spanned Races 5-10. …
Live racing will resume at Churchill Downs on Wednesday for the start of a five-day week. First post for the nine-race program is 12:45 p.m. …
Thursday’s Twilight Thursday card will get underway at 5 p.m. and feature $2 domestic beer, live music by Tyler Embry and local food trucks Gringos, Hurrikanes, Lil Cheezers and Ramiro’s Mexican. Thursday also doubles as Teacher Appreciation Day with discounted $45 Millionaires’ Row tickets available for purchase for local teachers. …
Friday is Senior Day and guests 60 and older can enjoy lunch on Millionaires’ Row for $45. Discounted tickets for both Teacher Appreciation Day and Senior Day can be purchased by calling (502) 636-4450. …
Saturday’s 11-race card at Churchill Downs will have watch party for the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, which features Kentucky Derby 151 winner Sovereignty and Preakness Stakes winner Journalism. Post time for the Belmont Stakes is 7:04 p.m. …
Sunday is Family Adventure Day with more than 15 kid-friendly activities for children under 12 to enjoy. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.churchilldowns.com.
