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She Can’t Sing scoring last year’s edition of the Chilukki. (Coady Photography)
Top Sprinter Wicked Halo Closes Career With Victory In Dream Supreme
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Lothenbach Stables’ She Can’t Sing will attempt to defend her title on Saturday when she faces eight fillies and mares that entered the 38th running of the $300,000 Chilukki Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.
The one-mile Chilukki will take place as Race 10 of 11 with a post time of 5:35 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 1 p.m.
Trained by Chris Block, She Can’t Sing is an eight-time winner from 38 starts. The 6-year-old daughter of Bernardini has won four of those races here at Churchill Downs including her 3 ¾-length triumph in last year’s Chilukki. Block opted to return She Can’t Sing to the turf following her Chilukki victory where she finished fourth in the Tom Benson Memorial at Fair Grounds and third in the Lady Canterbury at Canterbury Park. The Chilukki will be She Can’t Sing’s first start since her fourth-place effort in the Romacaca Handicap in early August at Hawthorne. Brian Hernandez Jr., who rode She Can’t Sing in last year’s Chilukki, has the return call from post No. 5.
Block also has entered Richard Perkin’s 14-time winner Oeuvre, who’s set to make her first start against graded stakes company. The 4-year-old Illinois-bred is on a three-race win streak with victories in the Jean Elizabeth Handicap at Hawthorne and consecutive allowance wins at Kentucky Downs and Keeneland. Jockey Jareth Loveberry will be in the irons from post 4.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, a two-time Chilukki winner, aims for his third victory in the race with 2022 Gazelle (GIII) winner Nostalgic. Ridden by Florent Geroux from the rail, Nostalgic finished 10th in the 148th Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), just ahead of fellow Chilukki rival Hidden Connection who finished 12th. Nostalgic began her 4-year-old season in mid-July, finishing second to Sixtythreecaliber in a third-level allowance contest. Four weeks later she defeated five rivals in allowance company and would go on to finish third to Randomized and A Mo Reay six weeks later in the Beldame (GII). Mott previously won the Chilukki with Obligatory (2021) and Feasibility Study (1997).
Here is the complete Chilukki field
1 Nostalgic (Geroux, Mott)
2 Raindrops on Roses (Joe Talamo, Pat Huffman)
3 Hidden Connection (Tyler Gaffalione, Bret Calhoun)
4 Oeuvre (Loveberry, Block); She Can’t Sing (Hernandez, Block)
5 Braganza (Declan Cannon, Eddie Kenneally)
6 Falconet (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher)
7 Be Like Water (Martin Garcia, Vicki Oliver
8 Hot and Sultry (Ricardo Santana Jr., Norm Casse)
Top Sprinter Wicked Halo Closes Career With Victory In Dream Supreme
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Wicked Halo made the final start of her storied career a winning one by defeating five rivals by two lengths in Saturday’s $300,000 Dream Supreme. Now, the daughter of Gun Runner will head off to Winchell’s broodmare band.
“You feel like a proud parent for Gun Runner to do what he did on the racetrack and now have his offspring do what they’re doing on the racetrack,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “Now you know they’re going to be in racing forever.”
Wicked Halo closed her career with a stout record of 18-9-3-5 with purse earnings of $1,579,400. The now 4-year-old filly began her career in 2021 at Lone Star Park and would go on to become an eight-time stakes winner. Overall, Wicked Halo was victorious in three Grade II races: the 2021 Adirondak and the 2022 Prioress and Raven Run.
DOWN THE S..T…R….E…..T……C…….H
Racing resumed Sunday with a first post of 1 p.m. There was a $106,217 carryover in the Derby City 6 that spanned Races 5-10 and Race 3 had a $20,088 carryover in the $1 Super Hi-5. …
Jockey Cristian Torres will begin serving a 15-day suspension Monday. He’ll miss the remainder of the Fall Meet and return to ride at the start of Oaklawn’s season. …
Wednesday is Senior Day and guests 60 and older can enjoy lunch on Millionaires Row for only $34. Tickets can be purchased by calling (502) 636-4450. …
Winter stall applications for Churchill Downs’ Trackside Louisville are due Friday. Applications are available in the Churchill Downs Stable Office. …
On Saturday, Norton Healthcare will hold their second Athlete Wellness and Performance educational meeting with jockeys and their families. The meeting will be held starting at 11:30 a.m. in the Churchill Downs Backside Recreation Center. …
Racing resumed Saturday at Churchill Downs for an 11-race program that began at 1 p.m. There was a $97,592 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot and a $2,827 carryover in Race 1’s $1 Super Hi 5. …
Jockey Chris Landeros reported Saturday that he will ride at Oaklawn this winter and reunite with his former agent Scott Hare. …
Leading apprentice rider Axel Concepcion has moved his tack from the mid-Atlantic to Kentucky and will be represented by Bryson Cox. Concepcion has been regularly working horses in the mornings at Churchill Downs for several top outfits including Brad Cox and Michael McCarthy. The 18-year-old Puerto Rico native is currently under suspension but will be cleared to ride Thanksgiving Day. …
Wednesday is Senior Day and guests 60 and older can enjoy lunch on Millionaires Row for only $34. Tickets can be purchased by calling (502) 636-4450. …
Winter stall applications for Churchill Downs’ Trackside Louisville are due Friday. Applications are available in the Churchill Downs Stable Office. …
Nominations for Turfway Park’s $125,000 Holiday Inaugural close Saturday, Nov. 18. To nominate, call or text Jackie Herbstreit at (859) 743-4333. …
On Saturday, Nov. 18 Norton Healthcare will hold their second Athlete Wellness and Performance educational meeting with jockeys and their families. The meeting will be held starting at 11:30 a.m. in the Churchill Downs Backside Recreation Center. …
For more information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.
