Churchill Downs Update: Gold Square Eyes Return to Derby Trail with Longshot Filoso in Kentucky Jockey Club

Nov 29, 2024

Gold Square, the ownership group behind multiple Grade I winner and 2022 Kentucky Derby (Grade I) contender Cyberknife, is back on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with Filoso, who is set to tackle Saturday’s $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at Churchill Downs.

Cyberknife, who captured the Arkansas Derby (GI) before finishing 18th in Kentucky Derby 148, went on to become one of racing’s top stars two years ago by winning the Haskell Stakes (GI) before runner-up finishes to Epicenter in the Travers (GI) and Cody’s Wish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) for trainer Brad Cox. Now, owner Al Gold has another contender in Filoso, a colt trained by Chad Summers, who hopes to follow a similar path toward the first Saturday in May.

“We’re thrilled to have another shot at the Kentucky Derby trail,” Summers said. “Cyberknife gave Gold Square incredible moments on the Road to the Derby and Filoso has shown us he has the talent to compete on that level.”

Filoso, who closed late to finish third in the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland last month, has flashed potential in his three starts. After debuting at Saratoga with a fourth-place finish, the colt broke his maiden with a decisive 3 ½-length victory in his second start. Summers believes the Breeders’ Futurity provided valuable experience, especially against top-tier competition like East Avenue and Ferocious.

“I think he gained a lot of experience out of the Breeders’ Futurity,” Summers said. “It was tough to close on that track, especially opening weekend. He ran well against two of the top 2-year-olds we’ve seen so far this year. Obviously, East Avenue didn’t run his race in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but I still think he’s at the top of the class. Ferocious, we saw what he did in his debut and how gutsy he ran in the Hopeful. So, running third to them was no slouch. He showed some adversity and was able to pass eight horses in the stretch, which isn’t an easy thing to do.

“We just want him to be comfortable within the early parts of the Kentucky Jockey Club. That’s a big key with him. Hopefully the pace sets up well for his late kick and we’re not totally out the back towards the Louisville football stadium down the street.”

The Kentucky Jockey Club will run as Race 11 on Saturday’s 12-race program with a post time of 5:48 p.m. (all times Eastern) First post is at 1 p.m. The card will also feature the $400,000 Golden Rod (GII) for fillies in Race 9, a Road to the Kentucky Oaks prep race, as well as the $225,000 Ed Brown in Race 6 and $225,000 Fern Creek in Race 10.

The field for the Kentucky Jockey Club in order of post position (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

·        He’s Not Joking (Florent Geroux, Josie Carroll, 8-1)

·        Jonathan’s Way (Joel Rosario, Phil Bauer, 5-2)

·        Tiztastic (Cristian Torres, Steve Asmussen, 5-1)

·        Dapper Moon (Ricardo Santana Jr., Dallas Stewart, 8-1)

·        Filoso (John Velazquez, Summers, 8-1)

·        Clock Tower (Gerardo Corrales, Wesley Ward, 10-1)

·        Sonic Skidaddle (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh, 6-1)

·        First Resort (Luis Saez, Eoin Harty, 9-2)

·        Render Judgment (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 12-1)

·        Redacted (Edgar Morales, Dallas Stewart, 30-1)

The Kentucky Jockey Club is part of the Prep Season on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, awarding points to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale toward a spot in the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on May 3, 2025.

 

BARNES, CITIZEN BULL, EAST AVENUE EARLY INDIVIDUAL FAVORITES IN POOL 2 OF KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER – Through the first day of wagering on Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I) winner Citizen Bull (7-1), recent debut winner Barnes (8-1) and Breeders’ Futurity (GI) winner East Avenue (15-1) lead the 38 individual betting interests. “All Other Colts and Geldings Foaled in 2022” is the overall favorite at 9-2.

Running concurrently with Pool 2 is the lone Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, which allows fans to wager on sires of Derby prospects. Into Mischief leads all sires at 6-1.

The four-day pools, which offer $2 Win and Exacta wagering, opened Thursday at noon (all times Eastern) and will close Sunday at 6 p.m.

Fans can visit www.kentuckyderby.com/futurewager for free past performances and live odds for each future wager pool.

 

DOWN THE STRETCH – Friday’s 12-race program got underway at 1 p.m. featuring the $600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) and $300,000 Mrs. Revere (GII). The 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot had a massive carryover of $201,174 and spanned Races 7-12. There were four Pick 5s on the program beginning in Races 1, 4, 6 and 8. … The temporary rail on the Matt Winn Turf Course was taken down and the races Friday-Sunday will be contested in Lane 1. … For more information about the Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.