Eight Belles Winner Obligatory Headlines Saturday's Chilukki

Nov 17, 2021 Churchill Downs Communications

Juddmonte’s homebred Obligatory, the one-length winner of the $300,000 Eight Belles (Grade II) on Kentucky Oaks day, tops a field of eight fillies and mares that were entered in Saturday’s $300,000 Chilukki (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

The one-mile Chilukki will go as Race 10 of 11 with a post time of 5:36 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 1 p.m.

Obligatory was the 16-1 upset winner of the seven-furlong Eight Belles for 3-year-old fillies on April 30. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Obligatory finished second in the $500,000 Acorn (GI) and $1 million Cotillion (GI). In her last start, Obligatory finished an enigmatic sixth in the $250,000 Raven Run (GII). Jockey Joel Rosario has the call for the Chilukki and drew post No. 7.

Also entered in Saturday’s 36^th running of the Chilukki is CJ Thoroughbreds, Left Turn Racing and Casner Racing’s accomplished 5-year-old mare Sally’s Curlin. Trained by Dale Romans, Sally’s Curlin will attempt to become the first horse to win multiple editions of the Chilukki. She won the race in 2019 by three-quarters of a length. Sally’s Curlin will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. from post 2.

Another top contender in the Chilukki field is multiple stakes winner Matera. Owned by Don Alberto Stable and trained by Brad Cox, Matera won the $125,000 Groupie Doll at Ellis Park and the $85,000 Mari Hulman George Memorial at Indiana Grand. The gray 4-year-old filly will be reunited with jockey Florent Geroux from post 3.

The complete field for the Chilukki from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): She Can’t Sing (Tyler Gaffalione, Chris Block); Sally’s Curlin (Hernandez, Romans); Matera (Geroux, Cox); Miss Bigly (Martin Garcia, Phil D’Amato); Pass the Plate (Joe Talamo, Paul McGee); Its Cold in Dehere (Ricardo Santana Jr. Norm Casse); Obligatory (Rosario, Mott); and Princess Causeway (Chris Landeros, Ian Wilkes).

Wagering is available online at www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated.