Mo Stash Headlines Mighty Beau; Honor Marie Breezes for Belmont Stakes

Jun 01, 2024 Kevin Kerstein

BBN Racing’s speedy Grade III winner Mo Stash is set to take on 10 fellow turf sprinters that were entered in the eighth running of the $225,000 Mighty Beau (Listed) to be run as the featured event on next Saturday’s 11-race program from Churchill Downs.

Contested at five furlongs on the Matt Winn Turf Course, the Mighty Beau Stakes will go as Race 10 with a post time of 5:27 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m. Turf racing on Saturday is scheduled to be conducted in Lane 2, 12 ft. from the inside rail.

Trained by Vicki Oliver, Mo Stash has been multi-dimensional in his 12-start career, running at sprint and two-turn distances. The son 4-year-old son of Mo Town’s resumé includes a one-length score in last year’s Transylvania Stakes (GIII) and runner-up finish to Wadsworth in the American Derby (Listed) held last year at Ellis Park. Jockey Rafel Bejarano, who was aboard Mo Stash during his 2-year-old campaign when he finished second in the Indian Summer Stakes (Listed) and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (GI), will have the call in the Mighty Beau from the rail.

Another accomplished turf sprinter that entered the Mighty Beau was Colts Neck Stables’ three-time stakes winner Nothing Better. The veteran 7-year-old son of Munnings, based at his owner’s farm in Colts Neck, N.J., was last victorious as a 6-year-old, winning the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship for the second-consecutive year. Jockey Gerardo Corrales will have the mount in the Mighty Beau for trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. and break from post No. 9.

Here is the complete field for the Mighty Beau from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

• Mo Stash (Bejarano, Oliver)
• Panther Island (Julien Leparoux, Laura Cazares)
• Mischievous Rogue (Luan Machado, Doug Cowans)
• Bad Beat Brian (Chris Emigh, Brittany Vanden Berg)
• Ryvit (Keith Asmussen, Steve Asmussen)
• Kaufymaker (Walter Rodriguez, Wesley Ward)
• Edge to Edge (Mitchell Murrill, Chris Hartman)
• Yes I Am Free (Rey Gutierrez, Laura Cazares)
• Nothing Better (Corrales, Duarte)
• Charcoal (Axel Concepcion, Tracey Wisner)
• Clear the Air (Adam Beschizza, Will Walden)

BELMONT STAKES CONTENDER HONOR MARIE BREEZES HALF-MILE IN :48.40 SATURDAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein and Dave Fishbein’s eighth-place finisher of Kentucky Derby 150, Honor Marie, finalized his serious preparation before the $2 million Belmont Stakes (GI) with a half-mile move in :48.40 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

With jockey Florent Geroux in the irons, Honor Marie worked at 7:30 a.m. outside stablemate Anthem King. The duo completed an opening quarter-mile of :24.20, according to Churchill Downs Clocker Adam Wallace.

“He bounced out of the Derby in great shape,” Beckman said. “We toyed for a little bit about running back in the Preakness but thought he’d do better with a little more time between starts. He had a really rough trip in the Derby and still finished up well.”

Saturday’s move was Honor Marie’s third work back from the Kentucky Derby. Geroux will have the mount in the Belmont Stakes, replacing Ben Curtis who is sidelined with a broken collarbone.

The draw for the Belmont Stakes is Sunday.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Live racing from Churchill Downs continued Saturday for “Stephen Foster Preview Day” which featured six stakes contests. First post was 12:45 p.m. Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens has taken over as the agent for veteran rider Martin Garcia. Previously represented by Jake Romans, Garcia was busy Saturday morning at Churchill Downs working six horses for various trainers. Stevens also represents Gabriel Saez. Both riders are expected to join the jockey colony this summer at Ellis Park. Jockey Keith Asmussen was displaced from his mount Singsational shorty after the start of Saturday’s first race. Conscious, Asmussen was transported to University Hospital for further evaluation of a probable left femur fracture and possible hip injury. The loose horse was reported to be okay. For more information about the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.