Churchill Downs Notes: Justify Jogs; Bravazo Breezes One Mile in 1:42.60 for Belmont Stakes

By Darren Rogers —-

JUSTIFY JOGS; BRAVAZO BREEZES ONE MILE IN 1:42.60 FOR BELMONT STAKES

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Thursday, May 31, 2018) – Undefeated Kentucky Derby (Grade I) and Preakness Stakes (GI) winner Justify returned to the Churchill Downs racetrack Thursday morning for a one-mile jog following his half-mile breeze in :46.80 Tuesday as he continued training for the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 9.

“It was a really good first day back at the track,” trainer Bob Baffert’s assistant Jimmy Barnes said. “He was pretty strong out there and full of himself. It was exactly what we wanted to see after his breeze Tuesday.”

Baffert, who was in town for Tuesday’s workout, is scheduled to return to Louisville from his Southern California base Saturday or Sunday. The 65-year-old conditioner said Tuesday Justify could possibly breeze Monday.

In other local Belmont Stakes news, Bravazo breezed one mile in 1:42.60 with exercise rider Danielle Rosier aboard for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The Preakness runner-up worked through eighth-mile splits of :13.20, :25.60, :38.20, :50.60, 1:03.40, 1:16.60 and 1:30 before completing a 1 1/8-mile gallop out in 1:58, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“I was very pleased with the work,” Lukas said. “With workouts, I’m not really looking at the time but rather how they’re doing it. He did everything we asked. You have to be a tough horse to compete in the Triple Crown series and I think we have a tough horse. He didn’t really get a whole lot of fitness from the Louisiana Derby to the Kentucky Derby with the time between races. I think the Derby made him a lot more fit and that’s part of the reason he did so well in the Preakness.”

Other locally-based Belmont Stakes contenders out for exercise during the exclusive 7:30 a.m. training window were Preakness third-place finisher Tenfold, who galloped about 1 ½ miles with Angel Garcia up for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, and Breeders’ Futurity (GI) winner Free Drop Billy, who galloped about 1 ½ miles with Juan Segundo in the saddle for Churchill Downs’ all-time leading trainer Dale Romans.

Baffert’s other Belmont hope, Wood Memorial (GI) third Restoring Hope, jogged one mile around 6 a.m.

Only 12 horses have swept the Triple Crown: Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978) and, most recently, the Baffert-trained American Pharoah (2015).

The Belmont Stakes field could possibly be comprised of the following 11 horses (with trainer): Bandua (Dermot Weld), Blended Citizen (Doug O’Neill), Bravazo (Lukas), Free Drop Billy (Romans), Gronkowski (Chad Brown), Hofburg (Bill Mott), Justify (Baffert), Noble Indy (Todd Pletcher), Restoring Hope (Baffert), Tenfold (Asmussen) and Vino Rosso (Pletcher).

To watch Justify’s jog and Bravazo’s breeze visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R71qmBtyMaU.
For complementary Belmont Stakes past performances courtesy of Brisnet.com, visit http://www.brisnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/BelmontStakes18.pdf.

FANS CAN WATCH JUSTIFY TRAIN IN PERSON OR ONLINE – With unbeaten Triple Crown hopeful Justify and four other possible Belmont Stakes contenders stabled on the grounds, Churchill Downs Racetrack is conducting a special 7:30-7:40 am. (all times Eastern) training period for those horses.

Area horse racing fans are invited to watch those colts train from the first floor of the facility free of charge. Churchill Downs Racetrack will open its Paddock Gate entrance between 7-8 a.m. each morning so the public can watch Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Justify along with rivals Bravazo, Free Drop Billy, Restoring Hope and Tenfold prepare for the 1 ½-mile third jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown – the 150th running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (Grade I) on Saturday, June 9.

Guests may park free of charge in the Orange and Black Lots outside of the Paddock Gate.

Video of the exercises will be shown on the Big Board and infield video screens at Churchill Downs.
Those unable to attend can watch an online live stream of the daily exercises with commentary on the Kentucky Derby Facebook (www.facebook.com/KentuckyDerby), Twitter www.twitter.com/kentuckyderby) and at www.KentuckyDerby.com/Works from 7:20-7:45 a.m., thanks to TwinSpires.com, the country’s leading online and mobile betting platform and official betting partner of Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Also, clips of the activity will be uploaded on the Kentucky Derby YouTube channel.

HARTMAN HOPES FOR RECORD-TYING WIN IN ARISTIDES WITH WILBO – Chris Wilkins’ multiple stakes winner Wilbo will attempt to give trainer Chris Hartman a record-tying third victory in Saturday night’s 30th running of the $100,000 Aristides Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs as the 9-5 morning line favorite.

“(Wilbo) ran well enough last year to almost win the race,” Hartman said. “He’s coming into the race really well and hopefully we can get it done this year. He’s a fast horse and doesn’t have to face Limousine Liberal this year.”

Three trainers are tied with three victories in the Aristides Stakes: Paul McGee (1989, 2000-01), D. Wayne Lukas (1995-96, 2002) and Steve Asmussen (2003, ’10, ’12).

Wilbo, a 6-year-old gelding by Candy Ride (ARG), finished just 2 ½ lengths behind top sprinter Limousine Liberal in the 2017 Aristides. The nine-time winner most recently was the runner-up behind Whitmore in the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (GIII) at Oaklawn Park on April 14. Hartman won the Aristides in 2015-16 with millionaire Alsvid.

“Alsvid was such a cool horse to be around,” Hartman said. “He’s retired at his owner’s (James Rogers) farm in Oklahoma. I get periodic updates on how he’s doing and he looks great. They just put a 2-year-old in the paddock to give him a friend to play with.”

Iowa-based jockey David Cabrera has the mount on Wilbo and will break from Post 3.

The six-furlong Aristides, named after the first Kentucky Derby winner in 1875, is the first of two stakes events on Saturday’s 11-race Downs After Dark Presented by Budweiser program. The first race is 6 p.m. (all times Eastern). The Aristides goes as Race 10 at approximately 10:42 pm. and the third running of the $75,000-added Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes, a five-furlong turf sprint, is Race 11 at approximately 11:10 p.m.

The Aristides field from the rail out (with jockeys, assigned weights and morning line odds): Smart Spree (Ricardo Santana Jr., 120 pounds, 5-1); Shadow Tracer (Robby Albarado, 120, 20-1); Wilbo (Cabrera, 122, 9-5); Heartwood (Calvin Borel, 120, 15-1); Mr. Crow (Corey Lanerie, 120, 5-2); Awesome Saturday (Brian Hernandez Jr., 120, 7-2) and Chief Cicatriz (James Graham, 120, 6-1).

MULTIPLE GRADED STAKES WINNER HOGY MADE SLIGHT 9-5 MORNING-LINE FAVE IN MIGHTY BEAU – Michael Hui’s multiple stakes-winning gelding Hogy is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the field of 10 that were entered in Saturday night’s third running of the $75,000-added Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course.

A former $80,000 claim by trainer Mike Maker, Hogy (51-19-13-6—$1,323,337) began his 9-year-old campaign with a 2 ¼-length win in the Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint Stakes at Sam Houston on Jan. 28 and then won the Canadian Turf (GIII) at Gulfstream Park by 3 ¾ lengths on March 3. Hogy tested the one-mile distance on April 13 at Keeneland in the Maker’s 46 Mile (GI) but tired to finish ninth.
Hogy, who will make his 52nd start Saturday, drew Post 10 with Corey Lanerie aboard.

The Mighty Beau field from the rail out (with jockeys, assigned weights and morning line odds): Morticia (Brian Hernandez Jr., 116 pounds, 9-2); Cutler (Melissa Zajac, 116, 50-1); Long On Value (Florent Geroux, 121, 2-1); Angaston (Shaun Bridgmohan, 116, 20-1); Sonic Boom (Julien Leparoux, 121, 12-1); The Critical Way (Adam Beschizza, 121, 15-1); Restless Rambler (James Graham, 121, 15-1); Fort Fortitude (David Cabrera, 123, 20-1); Kid Perfect (Ricardo Santana Jr., 121, 6-1); Hogy (Lanerie, 125, 9-5).

The Mighty Beau, carded as Race 11 at approximately 11:10 p.m. (all times Eastern), is named in honor of Oklahoma-bred Mighty Beau, who boasted a record of 75-12-19-10—$646,000 from 2001-08 and made a record five starts in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (then known as the Aegon Turf Sprint) from 2002-06.
The 11-race card on Downs After Dark Presented by Budweiser also features the 30th running of the $100,000 Aristides in Race 10 with a post time of 10:42 p.m. The first race is 6 p.m.

MEET LEADERS – Through the halfway point of the 38-day Spring Meet, jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. had a 28-22 win lead over 15-time leading rider Corey Lanerie in the jockey standings. Florent Geroux was third with 17 wins followed by Shaun Bridgmohan and Ricardo Santana Jr., who were tied for fourth with 11 victories each … Trainers Steve Asmussen and Kenny McPeek were tied atop the trainer standings with 11 wins while Mike Tomlinson was third with 10 wins. Rusty Arnold II, Eddie Kenneally, Mike Maker and Ian Wilkes were tied for fourth with eight wins each. … Ken and Sarah Ramsey maintained a 5-4 win lead in the owner standings over Gary and Mary West. Janis Whitham’s Whitham Thoroughbreds was third with three wins.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Racing at Churchill Downs continues on Twilight Thursday with an eight-race program at 5 p.m., highlighted by $1 beer, local food trucks and blues music by Laurie Jane and the 45s. … Thursday will showcase a massive $672,486 carryover in the 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot that gets underway in Race 3 at 5:58 p.m. … Downs After Dark Presented by Budweiser returns Saturday. Guests are encouraged to dress in bright, neon colors for the theme “Neon Nights.” Gates open at 5 p.m. with the first of 11 races scheduled at 6 p.m. To purchase tickets visit www.churchilldowns.com/tickets. … Congratulations to trainer Eddie Kenneally for winning Churchill Downs’ Barn of the Week. Kenneally and his barn will receive a pizza party and winner’s circle recognition during Friday’s card. … At the halfway mark of the Spring Meet there were 96 horses claimed for a total of $2,123,500 compared to 90 for a total of $1,537,500 through the first 19 days of the 38-day Spring Meet a year ago. … Ed DeRosa of TwinSpires.com and Brisnet.com tweeted the following statistic on Thursday: “Of the 17 U.S. & Canadian racetracks with at least 100 races since April 30, @ChurchillDowns has the lowest favorite win percentage with 29.6%, and it also leads in average field size (8.5).” … “Inside Churchill Downs” will air Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN 680/105.7. Those outside the Louisville radio market can listen live online at http://www.espnlouisville.com/ or via podcast on the station’s website orhttps://soundcloud.com/.