$100,000 Shawnee
Grade I Winner Dunbar Road Headlines Stakes Opener
Peter Brant’s $600,000 Alabama (GI) winner Dunbar Road is set for her 4-year-old debut as she’ll face seven rivals that entered Saturday’s $100,000 Shawnee Stakes presented by TwinSpires.com – part of “Stephen Foster Preview Day” at Churchill Downs.
The 1 1/16-mile Shawnee is a likely steppingstone to the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis (GII), a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event on Saturday, June 27 at Churchill Downs.
Dunbar Road will be making her 4-year-old debut for trainer Chad Brown following her fifth-place finish in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) in November. The four-time winning daughter of Quality Road was made eligible for the Shawnee with a $2,000 supplement fee after not originally being nominated. Jose Ortiz has the call from post position No. 4.
Another accomplished mare that entered the Shawnee is Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim and Anna Cambron, Denali Stud, Rigney Racing and Madaket Stables’ $500,000 La Troienne (GI) winner She’s a Julie. Trained by Steve Asmussen, She’s a Julie will make her first start in her 5-year-old campaign following a fourth-place effort in October’s Spinster (GI) at Keeneland. Ricardo Santana Jr. is signed on to ride from post 8.
The Shawnee is Race 7 with a post time of 4:08 p.m. (all times Eastern).
The complete field for the Shawnee:
1. Moonlit Garden, J: Tyler Gaffalione, T: Mark Casse
2. Chocolate Kisses, J: Declan Carroll, T: Mark Casse
3. Awe Emma, J: Jon Court, T: Dallas Stewart
4. Dunbar Road, J: Jose Ortiz, T: Chad Brown
5. Another Broad, J: John Velazquez, T: Todd Pletcher
6. Vault, J: Joel Rosario, T: Brad Cox
7. Flower Party (IRE), J: Shaun Bridgmohan, T: Mike Stidham
8. She’s A Julie, J: Santana, T: Steve Asmussen
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$100,000 Tepin Stakes
Tepin at Churchill Steeped with Graded Stakes Winners
Trainer Motion’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Juvenile Turf winner Sharing makes 3-year-old Debut Saturday
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stable’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade I) winner Sharing is set to make her 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s first running of the $100,000 Tepin Stakes presented by Woodford Reserve – one of five stakes events on “Stephen Foster Preview Day” at Churchill Downs.
The one-mile Tepin Stakes, named after the brilliant two-time Eclipse Award-winning turf mare, is slated as Race 8 with a post time of 4:40 p.m. (all times Eastern). Saturday’s program features a stakes bonanza topped by the $150,000 Matt Winn (GIII) for 3-year-olds on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Other stakes events on the card are the $100,000 Blame, $100,000 Shawnee and $100,000 War Chant. First post for the 11-race program is 1 p.m.
Sharing, a Maryland-bred daughter of Speightstown, has not been seen since her 1 ¼-length score in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. Trained by Graham Motion, Sharing’s only blemish in her four-race career was a narrow third-place effort in her debut. Following the Breeders’ Cup, Sharing was given a break but returned to Motion’s Fair Hill training center in March and has been consistently working toward her sophomore debut.
Jockey Manny Franco, who was aboard Sharing in the Breeders’ Cup, will be back aboard in the Tepin from post No. 9.
Chief among Sharing’s opposition in the Tepin is Godolphin’s undefeated filly Alms. Trained by Mike Stidham, Alms is a perfect 4-for-4 in her career, including stakes victories in the $150,000 Matron Stakes (GIII), $100,000 Jimmy Durante (GIII) and $60,000 Shantel Lanerie Memorial Overnight Stakes. Paco Lopez will be aboard Alms in the Tepin from post 14.
The field for the Tepin will also include $100,000 Florida Oaks (GIII) winner Outburst (GB); $150,000 Here Comes the Bride (GIII) runner-up Abscond; $100,000 Ginger Brew Stakes runner-up Moral Reasoning; and $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks hero Queen of God.
Racing on the Matt Winn Turf Course for Saturday will be staged from the hedge with no temporary inside rail.
The complete field for the Tepin Stakes from the rail out:
1. Oxum Power, J: Joseph Ramos, T: Paulo Lobo
2. Abscond, J: Tyler Gaffalione, T: Eddie Kenneally
3. Walk in Marrakesh (IRE), J: Jose Ortiz, T: Ignacio Correas IV
4. Dominga, J: Shaun Bridgmohan, T: Brad Cox
5. Hendy Woods, J: Declan Carroll, T: Mark Casse
6. In Good Spirits, J: Miguel Mena, T: Al Stall Jr.
7. Outburst, J: Javier Castellano, T: Eddie Kenneally
8. Jezebel’s Kitten, J: Florent Geroux, T: Brad Cox
9. Sharing, J: Manny Franco, T: Graham Motion
10. Pass the Plate, J: Julien Leparoux, T: Paul McGee
11. Heir of Light, J: Jose Lezcano, T: Norm Casse
12. Moral Reasoning, J: Joel Rosario, T: Chad Brown
13. Queen of God, J: Joe Talamo, T: Mike Maker
14. Alms, J: Paco Lopez, T: Michael Stidham
AE: Eye of War, J: John Velazquez, T: Todd Pletcher
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$100,000 Blame Stakes
Service Hopes Diamond King Shines with Speed from outside post in Blame
Cash is King and LC Racing’s multiple stakes winner Diamond King will attempt to use his speed from the far outside post No. 14 in Saturday’s one-mile $100,000 Blame presented by Norton Healthcare.
Trained by John Servis, Diamond King enters the one-turn Blame with a 1 ¼-length score in the $125,000 Stymie at Aqueduct. The speedy son of Quality Road battled on the pace throughout the Stymie prior to drawing clear of fellow Blame rival American Anthem.
“Kendrick (Carmouche) is an aggressive rider,” Servis said. “I actually love his post because he’s able to use that speed. He doesn’t have to necessarily be in front but if he’s in front or just off the pace, that will be the most likely scenario.”
Diamond King is listed at 10-1 on the morning line as the six-time winner will attempt to get revenge at Churchill Downs after dropping jockey Frankie Pennington in the 2018 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII).
“It seems like every race in the country is coming up tough right now,” Servis said. “It’s sort of the way of the world but there are a lot of talented horses to our inside.”
The Blame is Race 9 on Saturday’s card with a post time of 5:12 p.m.
The complete field for the Blame with MLO:
1. Long Range Toddy, J: Jon Court, T: Dallas Stewart, 20-1
2. Bourbon Resolution, J: Chris Landeros, T: Ian Wilkes, 30-1
3. Global Campaign, J: Stanley Hough, T: Jose Ortiz, 9-2
4. Alwaysmining, J: Manny Franco, T: Kelly Rubley, 20-1
5. Everfast, J: Joel Rosario, T: Jack Sisterson, 30-1
6. Backyard Heaven, J: Tyler Gaffalione, T: Mike Maker, 6-1
7. Silver Dust, J: Adam Beschizza, T: Bret Calhoun, 8-1
8. Owendale, J: FlorentGeroux, T: Brad Cox, 3-1
9. Extraordinary Jerry, J: Javier Castellano, T: Dermot Magner, 12-1
10. Snapper Sinclair, J: Julien Leparoux, T: Steve Asmussen, 15-1
11. American Anthem, J: David Cohen, T: Danny Gargan, 15-1
12. Discreet Lover, J: John Bisono, T: Uriah St. Lewis, 30-1
13. Mr. Money, J: Gabriel Saez, T: Bret Calhoun, 5-1
14. Diamond King, J: Kendrick Carmouche, T: John Servis, 10-1
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$150,000 Matt Winn Stakes (Grade III)
Attachment Rate is Romans’ New Road to the Derby
With trainer Dale Romans’ highly-regarded Kentucky Derby prospect Dennis’ Moment on the sidelines, the Churchill Downs all-time leading conditioner hopes Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister’s $150,000 Matt Winn Stakes (Grade III) contender Attachment Rate will get him to the first Saturday in September.
“He’s been a later developing colt,” Romans said. “He’s run four solid races including third in the Gotham and second in the Unbridled. Really, his only bad race was in his debut at Churchill last June. We brought him back in Florida this winter and we thought we had something when he finished a fast-closing second at 50-1 in a maiden race.”
Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez has the call on Attachment Rate from post No. 11. He is the 4-1 second choice on Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds.
Foley ‘Enjoying the Ride’ to the Matt Winn with Major Fed
Churchill Downs veteran horseman Greg Foley has run several horses on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby but he’s yet to have his first starter in the race. Foley is hoping that could change this year with improving 3-year-old and $150,000 Matt Winn (GIII) contender Major Fed.
“I’ve been doing this my whole life and always dreamt I would one day have a starter in the Derby,” said 62-year-old Foley. “I grew up in the sport under my father (Dravo) and now my boys (Travis and Alex) are getting involved in the game. It’s special to have a horse like this who gives us every sign he will get better with age.”
Major Fed, a 3-year-old son by Ghostzapper, is the seventh foal to hit the racetrack for his dam Bobby’s Babe. Foley has trained five of Major Fed’s siblings including stakes winner May Lilly and multiple stakes-placed Zapperini.
“(Major Fed) has shown us he has just as much, if not more, talent than his siblings,” Foley said. “They were all solid horses in their own right on the racetrack and we hope Major Fed is just a step above.”
Foley shook his head in disappointment when asked about his thoughts on Major Fed drawing post 12 for Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn presented by Woodford Reserve. Jockey Joel Rosario will have the return call in the Matt Winn.
“We drew the inside in the Louisiana Derby and we were what seemed like 20 lengths behind the second to last horse in the race,” Foley said. “To no fault of his own, he was the first horse to be loaded and completely missed the break. Now we drew the 12 hole.”
The Matt Winn is the 10th and featured race on Saturday’s program that has been dubbed “Stephen Foster Preview Day” and will award the top 4 finishers points on a 50-20-10-5 scale. First post is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Matt Winn is slated at 5:44 p.m.
The full field for the Matt Winn with MLO
1. Pneumatic, J: Ricardo Santana Jr., T: Steve Asmussen, 4-1
2. Informative, J: John Bisono, T: Uriah St. Lewis, 20-1
3. Celtic Striker, J: Manny Franco, T: Ray Handal, 20-1
4. Flap Jack, J: Rafael Bejarano, T: Jack Sisterson, 20-1
5. Ny Traffic, J: Paco Lopez, T: Saffie Joseph Jr., 10-1
6. Necker Island, J: Tyler Gaffalione, T: Stanley Hough, 15-1
7. Crypto Cash, J: Corey Lanerie, T: Kenny McPeek, 20-1
8. Shake Some Action, J: Javier Castellano, T: Brad Cox, 12-1
9. Maxfield, J: Jose Ortiz, T: Brendan Walsh, 5-2
10. Attachment Rate, J: John Velazquez, T: Dale Romans, 4-1
12. Major Fed, J: Joel Rosario, T: Greg Foley, 5-1
Trainer Mike Stidham reported Friday that Mystic Guide would scratch in favor of an allowance race.
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$100,000 War Chant
Strong Field set for War Chant to close Saturday’s Stephen Foster Preview Day
Three Diamonds Farm’s $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) winner Field Pass will move back to turf as the headliner for Saturday’s $100,000 War Chant presented by TwinSpires.com – a one-mile turf event for 3-year-olds on “Stephen Foster Preview Day” at Churchill Downs.
Field Pass, the winner of Turfway Park’s Jeff Ruby Steaks, will shift from the synthetic Polytrack surface back to the turf in Saturday’s race. Trained by Mike Maker, Field Pass captured the March 14 Jeff Ruby Steaks by a neck over the Wesley Ward-trained Invader. The 3-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid returned to Kentucky in February following his victory in Gulfstream Park’s $100,000 Dania Beach. Jose Ortiz will have the call in the War Chant from post No. 5.
Among the top challengers to Field Pass in the War Chant are Godolphin’s speedy Hieronymus, who captured the $57,000 Randy Romero Memorial and $70,000 Black Gold at Fair Grounds; Daniel Ryan’s $100,000 Rushaway winner Vanzzy; and Cannon Thoroughbreds’ $100,000 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes winner Smooth Like Strait.
Matthew Schera’s $100,000 Kittens Joy (GIII) winner Island Commish was supplemented to the War Chant field with a $2,000 payment at the time of entries on Wednesday. Paco Lopez will ride the Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee from post 3.
The War Chant goes as the Race 11 finale at 6:16 p.m.
The War Chant field:
1. South Bend, J: Julien Leparoux, T: Stanley Hough
2. Bodecream, J: Deshawn Parker, T: Danny Pish
3. Island Commish, J: Paco Lopez, T: Saffie Joseph Jr.
4. Vanzzy, J: Kendrick Carmouche, T: Michael Pino
5. Field Pass, J: Jose Ortiz, T: Mike Maker
6. Hieronymus, J: Shaun Bridgmohan, T: Brad Cox
7. Bama Breeze, J: Corey Lanerie, T: Rusty Arnold
8. Liam’s Pride, J: David Cohen, T: Doug O’Neill
9. Smooth Like Strait, J: John Velazquez, T: Michael McCarthy
10. Shared Sense, J: Florent Geroux, T: Brad Cox
11. Street Ready, J: Chris Landeros, T: Ian Wilkes
12. Pixelate, J: Joel Rosario, T: Mike Stidham
13. Billy Batts, J: Ricardo Santana Jr., T: Steve Asmussen
14. Fenwick Station, J: Tyler Gaffalione, T: Eddie Kenneally
AE: Natural Power, J: Adam Beschizza, T: Mark Casse
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Saturday’s Late Pick 5 Features $500,000 Guaranteed Pool
The late 50-cent Pick 5 on Saturday will feature a $500,000 guaranteed pool with an all-stakes sequence in Races 7-11.
The stellar five-race sequence will kick-off at 4:08 p.m. and feature the $100,000 Shawnee presented by TwinSpires.com (Race 7), $100,000 Tepin presented by Woodford Reserve (Race 8), $100,000 Blame presented by Norton Healthcare (Race 9), $150,000 Matt Winn (Grade III) (Race 10), and $100,000 War Chant presented by TwinSpires.com (Race 11).
Free Brisnet past performances are available at www.churchilldowns.com/handicapping.
Past The Wire Staff
Photo 1: Dunbar Road gallops at Churchill in April. Credit: Churchill Downs
Photo 2: Sharing breezing at Fair Hill Training Center on May 16. Credit: Maggie Kimmit
Photo 3: Diamond King wins the Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct. Credit: Coglianese Photos/Robert Mauhar
Photo 4: Attachment Rate works at Gulfstream in February. Credit: Joe DiOrio
Photo 5: Field Pass wins the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Credit: Churchill Downs
