Churchill Downs Update and Stakes Advances: Two Sharp Edges Into Spotlight for $300,000 Chilukki Stakes (Grade III); Wide-Open Field of Nine Set for $300,000 Commonwealth Turf (Grade III)

Nov 16, 2024

Rigney Racing’s highly regarded 3-year-old filly Two Sharp, a dominant allowance winner one month ago at Keeneland, leads a competitive field of eight fillies and mares entered in next Saturday’s 39th running of the $300,000 Chilukki Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

The one-mile Chilukki is one of two featured events on an 11-race program that also includes the $300,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (GIII). First post is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Chilukki slated as Race 8 at 4:25 p.m.

Trained by Phil Bauer, Two Sharp has been heavily favored in each of her four career starts, including a dazzling 11 ¼-length maiden special weight victory at Saratoga at odds of 1-2 and a 6 ¼-length romp against allowance company at Keeneland at odds of 1-5. The daughter of Twirling Candy will break from post No. 4 under jockey Junior Alvarado.

Among Two Sharp’s challengers is Claiborne Farm’s Pigalle, the Groupie Doll Stakes winner who most recently finished fourth behind Musical Mischief in the Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove Stakes (GII). Trained by Tommy Drury Jr., Pigalle will cut back to one turn for the Chilukki and will be ridden by Luan Machado from post 2.

Another key contender is Fancy, owned by Heider Family Stables and trained by Brendan Walsh. The 4-year-old daughter of Justify was narrowly defeated by Pigalle in the Groupie Doll Stakes before rebounding with a commanding gate-to-wire allowance win at Keeneland as the 3-5 favorite. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post 8.

The field also includes Positano Sunset, owned and bred by Six Column Stables, Randy Bloch, John Seiler and David Hall. A winner of last year’s Audubon Oaks, the Ian Wilkes-trained filly has earned $429,325 in her career, highlighted by runner-up finishes in the Chicago Stakes (GIII) and Open Mind at Churchill Downs. Julien Leparoux will ride from post 6.

The complete field for the Chilukki in post position order (with jockey and trainer):

Imonra (Luis Saez, Saffie Joseph Jr.)
Pigalle (Machado, Drury)
Taxed (Brian Hernandez Jr., Randy Morse)
Two Sharp (Alvarado, Bauer)
Royal Spa (Flavien Prat, Rodolphe Brisset)
Positano Sunset (Leparoux, Wilkes)
Oeuvre (Jareth Loveberry, Chris Block)
Fancy (Gaffalione, Walsh)
Fans can watch and wager on every race from Churchill Downs on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

 

WIDE-OPEN FIELD OF NINE 3-YEAR-OLDS SET FOR $300,000 COMMONWEALTH TURF STAKES – A competitive field of nine 3-year-olds, including Hawthorne Derby winner Ak Sar Ben Derby, Gun Runner Stakes runner-up Herchee and King’s Plate runner-up My Boy Prince is set to contest the 19th running of the $300,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (Grade III), one of two featured events on an 11-race card next Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, the Commonwealth Turf goes as Race 10 with a post time of 5:25 p.m. First post is 1 p.m.

Ontario-bred My Boy Prince, owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse, leads the field with an impressive resumé of six wins from 13 starts and career earnings of $767,266. The gray son of Cairo Prince was the 3-5 favorite in the prestigious King’s Plate three months ago but finished second and was beaten three-quarters of a length by Caitlinhergrtness. Florent Geroux has the mount on My Boy Prince, who will break from the rail.

Another stakes winner in the field is Ak Sar Ben Derby, who scored a narrow victory over Higgins Boat in the Hawthorne Derby on Oct. 6 at odds of 9-1. Owned by Millard Seldin Revocable Trust and trained by John Ortiz, the gelded son of Tapiture will be ridden by Junior Alvarado from post No. 4.

Herchee, owned by 100% Racing Stable and trained by Helen Pitts, has been a model of consistency throughout his four-race campaign. Alongside his runner-up finish in the Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs, the gelded son of Twirling Candy boasts two victories and a third-place finish in the Bryan Station Stakes (GIII) at Keeneland. Edgar Morales will guide Herchee from post 8.

The complete field for the Commonwealth Turf from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

My Boy Prince (Geroux, Casse)
Telescopic (Luan Machado, Vicki Oliver)
Dashman (Luis Saez, Brian Lynch)
Ak Sar Ben Derby (Alvarado, Ortiz)
Piper’s Factor (Brian Hernandez Jr., Katerina Vassilieva)
Will Take It (Cristian Torres, Eddie Milligan Jr.)
Lagynos (Flavien Prat, Steve Asmussen)
Herchee (Morales, Pitts)
Evade (FR) (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker)
DOWN THE STRETCH – Live racing continued Saturday at Churchill Downs for an 11-race card that had a first post of 1 p.m. and featured the 26th Claiming Crown. There was a $30,658 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot that spanned Races 6-11. …. Trainer Dallas Stewart began Saturday one win away from 1,000-career victories. He had one entry in Race 3. … For more information about the Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.