Saturday Night's Chorleywood and Monomoy Girl

Jun 08, 2024 Kevin Kerstein

Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s upset Louisville Stakes (Grade III) winner Sugoi will rematch against Godolphin’s accomplished European-based Bold Act (IRE) in Saturday night’s $175,000 Chorleywood Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Run at 1 3/8 miles on turf, the Chorleywood is the co-featured event on the 10-race “Downs After Dark” program along with the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes. The Chorleywood will go as Race 7 with a post time of 9:05 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 6 p.m.

Three weeks ago, Sugoi, at odds of 19-1, defeated heavy 3-5 favorite Bold Act in the Louisville Stakes by 4 ¾ lengths when he took the field of turf marathoners gate-to-wire. Trained by Mike Maker, Sugoi is a former $50,000 claim for his owners this spring at Keeneland. Maker has stated the long-term goal with Sugoi could be the July 20 United Nations Stakes (GII) at Monmouth Park and, eventually, the Nov. 16 Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs. Jockey Julien Leparoux will be in the irons from post No. 10.

The Charlie Appleby-trained Bold Act will attempt to avenge his defeat to Sugoi with perennial leading rider Tyler Gaffalione in the irons. The 4-year-old son of New Approach has won seven of 15 lifetime starts including a half-length score in the Woodford Reserve Cardinal Condition Stakes as a 3-year-old on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby. Later in his 3-year-old season, Bold Act shipped to North America for a gutsy three-quarters of a length victory in the Sycamore (GIII) at Keeneland. To begin the 2024 season, Bold Act was victorious when he comfortably defeated eight rivals by two lengths in the Dubai City of Gold (GII) at Meydan Racecourse. He will break from post 6.

Another accomplished horse entered in the Chorleywood is D.J. Stable’s Grade II winner and multiple Grade I-placed Webslinger. Trained by Mark Casse, Webslinger most recently finished third in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI), beaten only two lengths to Program Trading and Naval Power. The 4-year-old gelded son of Constitution had a solid 3-year-old season, winning the American Turf (GII) along with finishing second in the Saratoga Derby Invitational (GI) and Hollywood Derby (GI). Jockey Jose Ortiz will ride from post 2.

Here is the field for the Chorleywood Overnight Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

• Wind Twist (Walter Rodriguez, Stephen Sandy)
• Webslinger (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse)
• Tawny Port (Florent Geroux, Christophe Clement)
• Stone Age (IRE) (Brian Hernandez Jr., Pat Parente)
• Red Run (Luis Saez, Maker)
• Bold Act (Gaffalione, Appleby)
• King Curlin (Chris Emigh, Brittany Vanden Berg)
• Utah Beach (Luan Machado, Ignacio Correas IV)
• Winning Spirit (GER) (Joel Rosario, Christophe Clement)
• Sugoi (Leparoux, Maker)
• Anglophile (Declan Cannon, Brian Lynch)

The Chorleywood is named in honor of the Thoroughbred retirement farm located in nearby Prospect, Ky. in Oldham County. The 25.1-acre property was originally a Thoroughbred farm owned by George and Janet Falk, dubbed Sunny Acres Farm. The property is now owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated CEO Bill Carstanjen, who partnered with the Thoroughbred transition program Second Stride to provide rehabilitation, retraining and committed adoptive homes to retired racehorses, broodmares and young Thoroughbreds not suited to the track. Chorleywood generally houses 16 transitioning Thoroughbreds at any one time and may serve 80 horses over a year.

Saturday is the final Downs After Dark event of the 2024 Spring Meet with the theme “Yacht Rock.” Fans are encouraged to become their own captain of smooth sailing with the perfect nautical chic ensemble. Monsters of Yacht will be the headliner on the stage beginning at 8:30 p.m. Those in attendance can enjoy special signature drinks in Q Mixers Beachside Party and participate in a style contest and roving photobooth.

For more information about Downs After Dark and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

GOLDEN ROD WINNER INTRICATE ATTEMPTS TO BOUNCE BACK TO FORM IN $175,000 MONOMOY GIRL OVERNIGHT STAKES – Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Scott Estes and Cambron Equine’s Golden Rod (GII) heroine Intricate will attempt to bounce back in form while facing five rivals including Courtlandt Farm’s Fair Grounds Oaks (Grade II) runner-up and Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) 11th-place finisher Our Pretty Woman in Saturday night’s $175,000 Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes shares the Saturday night spotlight with the $175,000 Chorleywood Stakes. The 11-race program for “Downs After Dark” will get underway at 6 p.m. with the Monomoy Girl going as Race 5 at 7:57 p.m.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Intricate cruised to a 5 ¼-length score as a 2-year-old in the Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs. As a 3-year-old, the daughter of Gun Runner finished second in the Rachel Alexandra (GII) but finished a disappointing fifth to Tarifa and fellow Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes rival Our Pretty Woman in the Fair Grounds Oaks. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will have the return call in the Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes from post No. 6.

While Intricate already has a stakes victory on her resumé, Our Pretty Woman will attempt to win her first black-type race in the Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, debuted as a 3-year-old in mid-January at Fair Grounds where she confidently won a maiden special weight contest by 3 ¼ lengths at odds of 5-1. One month later, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro cruised to a 4 ¼-length victory in a first-level allowance contest which eventually vaulted her onto the Road to the Longines Kentucky Oaks in the Fair Grounds Oaks. In that race, Our Pretty Woman was headed in the final stages by Tarifa. Jockey Luis Saez will be in the saddle on Saturday from post 2.

Here is the complete field for the Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

• Promisemeanempire (Frankie Dettori, Ed Moger Jr.)
• Our Pretty Woman (Saez, Asmussen)
• Lucky Speech (Axel Concepcion, Joe Sharp)
• Band of Gold (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek)
• Merasol Sugar (Jose Ortiz, John Ortiz)
• Intricate (Gaffalione, Walsh)