Churchill Downs Update: Churchill Downs-Based Connections Ready for Breeders' Cup

Oct 31, 2024

Several local connections from Churchill Downs will compete for racing’s richest prizes and championship honors this weekend at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar.

 

Below is a race-by-race lineup of the Churchill Downs connections competing at the Breeders’ Cup. The lineup includes local jockeys as well as horses who are based locally with their trainers.

 

Friday:

 

$2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) (Race 7, 6:25 p.m.):

Immersive: trainer Brad Cox
La Cara: jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.; trainer Mark Casse
Quickick: trainer Tom Amoss
Snowyte: jockey Luis Saez
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GI) (Race 8, 7:05 p.m.):

Nitrogen: jockey Jose Ortiz
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) (Race 9, 7:45 p.m.):

Citizen Bull: jockey Martin Garcia
East Avenue: jockey Tyler Gaffalione; trainer Brendan Walsh
Jonathan’s Way: trainer Phil Bauer
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (GI) (Race 10, 8:25 p.m.):

Noble Confessor: jockey Tyler Gaffalione
Seagulls Eleven (IRE): jockey Luis Saez
Saturday:

 

$1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) (Race 4, 3 p.m.):

Society: jockey Tyler Gaffalione; trainer Steve Asmussen
Zeitlos: jockey Jose Ortiz; trainer Steve Asmussen
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GI) (Race 5, 3:41 p.m.):

Cogburn: trainer Steve Asmussen
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) (Race 6, 4:21 p.m.):

Honor D Lady: jockey Tyler Gaffalione
Thorpedo Anna: jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
$5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI) (Race 7, 5:01 p.m.):

Grand Sonata: jockey Tyler Gaffalione
$7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) (Race 8, 5:41 p.m.):

Highland Falls: jockey Luis Saez; trainer Brad Cox
Next: jockey Luan Machado
Pyrenees: jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) (Race 9, 6:25 p.m.)

Didia (ARG): jockey Jose Ortiz
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) (Race 10, 7:05 p.m.):

Bentornato: jockey Luis Saez
Federal Judge: trainer Brad Cox
Gun Pilot: jockey Cristian Torres; trainer Steve Asmussen
Nakatomi: jockey Tyler Gaffalione
Skelly: jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.; trainer Steve Asmussen
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) (Race 10, 7:45 p.m.):

Carl Spackler (IRE): jockey Tyler Gaffalione
More Than Looks: jockey Jose Ortiz
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) (Race 12, 8:25 p.m.):

Cagliostro: jockey Jose Ortiz
Mufasa (CHI): jockey Tyler Gaffalione
Saudi Crown: jockey Florent Geroux; trainer Brad Cox
Seize the Grey: jockey Jaime Torres; trainer D. Wayne Lukas
Three Technique: jockey Rafael Bejarano; trainer Jason Cook
Tumbarumba: jockey Luis Saez; trainer Brian Lynch
Churchill Downs will simulcast the Breeders’ Cup World Championships as well as offer daily dining packages in Millionaires Row for $67 for ideal balcony viewing of live racing and the Breeders’ Cup simulcast from the Big Board. A simulcast of the 10-race “Future Stars Friday” card from Del Mar will begin at 2:35 p.m. and the Breeders’ Cup will cover Races 6-9 (5:45-7:45 p.m.). Championship Saturday’s 12-race program at Del Mar will commence at 1:05 p.m. with the Breeders’ Cup on Races 4-12 (3:41-8:25 p.m.). The $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) is Race 8 at 5:41 p.m.

Live racing on Friday at Churchill Downs features 10 races from 1-6:45 p.m. Saturday’s 11-race live card runs 1-7:20 p.m. Simulcast wagering on the Breeders’ Cup will be available in the Race & Sportsbook on the second floor of the Clubhouse, as well as select dining spaces. Guests who attend Churchill Downs on Friday will be able to advance wager on the entire Championship Saturday program from Del Mar. There is no advance wagering on-track Thursday for the Championship Friday program.

 

BANGO TABBED AS 5-2 FAVORITE IN BET ON SUNSHINE – Tamaroak Partners’ Bango, Churchill Downs’ all-time win record holder, returns to the spotlight as the 5-2 morning line favorite in Saturday’s 16th running of the $300,000 Bet On Sunshine Stakes (Listed).

The Bet On Sunshine, a six-furlong sprint, is carded as Race 10 of an 11-race program, with a post time of 6:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 1 p.m.

Trained by Greg Foley, the tough-as-nails veteran Bango claimed his place in Churchill Downs history during the September Meet by surpassing Ready’s Rocket for most wins at the iconic track. The 7-year-old has made three prior starts in the Bet On Sunshine, winning in 2022, finishing fourth in 2021 and third last year. With regular rider Tyler Gaffalione competing at the Breeders’ Cup, Corey Lanerie, who rode Bango twice as a 2-year-old, will be in the irons from post No. 3.

Another top contender in the Bet On Sunshine is Happy Is a Choice who enters the race off a thrilling victory in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes six weeks ago. The son of Runhappy, owned by Hooties Racing, WSS Racing and 4G Racing and trained by John Ortiz, boasts five victories in 11 starts and is 2-for-3 lifetime at Churchill Downs. The versatile sprinter breaks from post 4 with jockey Ramon Vazquez.

“He came out of the Louisville Thoroughbred Society great and the plan was to keep him home at Churchill for this race,” Ortiz said. “The Louisville Thoroughbred Society was his best effort of his career and was really special for him to get his first stakes win.”

Here is the field for the Bet On Sunshine Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Big Hat Willie (Fernando De La Cruz, David Jacobson)
Gold Luck (Edgar Morales, Genaro Garcia)
Bango (Lanerie, Foley)
Happy Is a Choice (Vazquez, Ortiz)
Gulfport (Erik Asmussen, Steve Asmussen)
Tejano Twist (Chris Landeros, Chris Hartman)
Happy American (Jareth Loveberry, Neil Pessin)
Champlin (Murrill, Foley)
Angkor (Gerardo Corrales, Phil Bauer)
DOWN THE STRETCH – Racing resumed Thursday at Churchill Downs for a 10-race card and first post of 1 p.m. There was a $36,216 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot which spanned Races 5-10. … A special Breeders’ Cup preview episode of “Inside Churchill Downs” will air Thursday at noon and 7 p.m. on 93.9 The Ville and on www.939theville.com. Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein will be joined by track announcer Travis Stone to preview all 14 Breeders’ Cup races. … The Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 will close Friday at 6 p.m. prior to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Fans can get the latest odds on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby. … For more information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.