Churchill Downs Stakes Advances: O Besos Headlines Saturday’s Grade III Matt Winn

By Darren Rogers —-

Matt Winn One of Seven Stakes on Saturday’s Stephen Foster Preview Day

LOUISVILLE, KY (Wednesday, May 26, 2021) Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry Stephens’ Kentucky Derby (Grade I) fifth-place finisher O Besos headlines a field of eight 3-year-olds that were entered in Saturday’s $150,000 Matt Winn (GIII) – one of seven stakes events on the 11-race Stephen Foster Preview Day card at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn shares the Saturday spotlight with the $150,000 Regret (GIII), $150,000 Aristides (Listed), $150,000 Blame, $150,000 Shawnee, $150,000 Audubon and $110,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes. The action-packed program gets underway at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Matt Winn is carded as Race 9 at 4:55 p.m.

O Besos, a 3-year-old son of Orb, closed into the early Kentucky Derby pace but flattened in the final furlong to cross the wire fifth. Trained by Greg Foley, O Besos had several options on the table following the Derby but opted to stay at Churchill Downs for the Matt Winn.

“We love running at Churchill and this race gives us plenty of options going forward,” Foley said. “He worked an easy half-mile (in :49) Monday morning and is doing well from the Derby. We can lead him over for the race right from Barn 11.”

Jockey Marcelino Pedroza, who rode O Besos to a third-place finish in the $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) and in the Kentucky Derby, has the call in the Matt Winn from post No. 3.

Chief among O Besos’ rivals in the Matt Winn is D J Stable’s $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GII) winner Helium. The Mark Casse trainee finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby. He’ll be ridden in Saturday’s race by Julien Leparoux from post 2.

Also entered in the Matt Winn field is Juddmonte’s $300,000 Oaklawn Stakes winner Fulsome. Trained by Brad Cox, Fulsome broke his maiden on turf but was transitioned to dirt in April at Keeneland when a first-level allowance event changed surfaces due to inclement weather. Fulsome defeated six rivals by 3 ½ lengths that day, which catapulted him to a 1 ¼-length win in the Oaklawn Stakes on May 1.

Florent Geroux has the mount from post 5.

The complete field for the Matt Winn (from the rail out with jockey and trainer): Ready to Pounce (Brian Hernandez Jr., Neil Pessin); Helium (Leparoux, Casse); O Besos (Pedroza, Foley); Southern Passage (Corey Lanerie, Dale Romans); Fulsome (Geroux, Cox); Hello Hot Rod (Francisco Arrieta, Caio Caramori); Sittin On Go (Joe Talamo, Romans); and Game Day Play (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro).

Churchill Downs admission gates will open Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and tickets, starting at $5, are available on www.ChurchillDowns.com/tickets. For those outside the Louisville area, all 11 races are scheduled to be televised on Fox Sports 2 from 12:30-6 p.m. Fans can also watch the live simulcast feed and wager on www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

*************************************************************

STAKES WINNER SPANISH LOVEAFFAIR TOPS GRADE III, $150,000 REGRET Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Hernon and Gary Barber’s two-time winner Spanish Loveaffair tops a competitive field of nine in Saturday’s $150,000 Regret (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/8-mile Regret, run over the Matt Winn Turf Course for 3-year-old fillies, will go as Race 8 with a post time of 4:22 p.m. The race is one of seven stakes events on Saturday’s 11-race program. It shares the spotlight with the: $150,000 Matt Winn (GIII), $150,000 Aristides (Listed), $150,000 Audubon, $150,000 Blame, $150,000 Shawnee and $110,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Spanish Loveaffair had a unique start to her 3-year-old season when she was the 8-5 favorite in the $100,000 Herecomesthebride (GIII) at Gulfstream Park. The Karakontie (JPN) filly finished in front by 2 ¾ lengths but, following a stewards’ inquiry into the run into the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile race, was disqualified to fourth due to interference. Spanish Loveaffair returned in the $200,000 Appalachian (GII) at Keeneland where she finished an enigmatic sixth.

Trained by Mark Casse, Spanish Loveaffair will be looking for her first trip to the winner’s circle since winning the $75,000 Sharp Susan on Aug. 29, 2020. She’ll be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post No. 4.

Also entered in the Regret is Miacomet Farm and Michael Pietrangelo’s $300,000 Edgewood (GII) runner-up Barista; Gainesway Stable’s $200,000 Florida Oaks (GIII) third-place finisher Oyster Box; and Lazy F Ranch’s recent allowance winner Gam’s Mission.

The complete field for the Regret from the inside out (with jockey and trainer): Oyster Box (Chris Landeros, Graham Motion); Munnyfor Ro (Drayden Van Dyke, Brian Lynch); Line Dancing (Julien Leparoux, Michael Matz); Spanish Loveaffair (Gaffalione, Casse); Barista (James Graham, Jimmy Baker); Postnup (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux); Gam’s Mission (Adam Beschizza, Cherie DeVaux); Flown (Ricardo Santana Jr., Brendan Walsh); and Saranya (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox).

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

*************************************************************

TAP IT TO WIN HOPES TO REBOUND AGAINST COMPETITIVE FIELD IN $150,000 ARISTIDES Live Oak Plantation’s four-time winner Tap It to Win tops a competitive cast of 10 sprinters that were entered in Saturday’s $150,000 Aristides (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

Run at six furlongs, the Aristides is one of seven stakes events on the 11-race Stephen Foster Preview Day program. First post is 12:45 p.m. and the Aristides goes as Race 10 at 5:26 p.m. The other stakes events on Saturday’s card are the $150,000 Matt Winn (Grade III), $150,000 Regret (GIII), $150,000 Audubon, $150,000 Blame, $150,000 Shawnee and $110,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes.

Tap It to Win was the 3-1 post-time favorite in the $500,000 Churchill Downs (GI) on Kentucky Derby Day. The speedy son of Tapit contested the early pace but faded to 11th. He previously won the $100,000 Sprint Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Trained by Mark Casse, Tap It to Win finished second in last year’s $300,000 H. Allen Jerkens (GI) and third in the $500,000 Pat Day Mile (GII).

Leading rider Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post No. 10.

Other top horses entered in the Aristides field include Tamaroak Partners’ five-time winner Bango; Johnny Evans and Terry Eoff’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) fourth-place finisher Empire of Gold; and Willis Horton’s four-time winner and near millionaire Long Range Toddy.

The complete field for the Aristides from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Haunt (Gerardo Corrales, Reve McGaughey); Tough Love (Corey Lanerie, Brian Williamson); Bango (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley); Edgemont Road (Ricardo Santana Jr., Eddie Kenneally); Empire of Gold (David Cabrera, Terry Eoff); Long Range Toddy (Jon Court, Dallas Stewart); Royal Daaher (Drayden Van Dyke, Jimmy DiVito); Mojo Man (Francisco Arrieta, DeVito); Sir Alfred James (Colby Hernandez, Al Stall Jr.); and Tap It to Win (Gaffalione, Casse).

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

*************************************************************

MULTIPLE GRADED STAKES WINNER SILVER DUST TOPS $150,000 BLAME Tom Durants multiple graded stakes winner Silver Dust tops a field of seven older horses that were entered in Saturday’s $150,000 Blame at Churchill Downs, the local prep race for the $600,000 Stephen Foster (Grade II) on June 26.

The Blame is slated as Race 6 with a post time of 3:18 p.m. Six other stakes events share the spotlight for Saturday’s card: the $150,000 Matt Winn (GIII), $150,000 Regret (GIII), $150,000 Aristides (Listed), $150,000 Audubon, $150,000 Shawnee and $110,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Silver Dust, the striking gray son of Tapit, is a seven-time winner from 33 career starts. The now 7-year-old gelding was the half-length winner of the $150,000 Ben Ali (GIII) at Keeneland. Trained by Bret Calhoun, Silver Dust will be ridden by Adam Beschizza from post No. 7.

Also entered in the Blame is Steve Landers Racing’s Ben Ali runner-up Night Ops, Lawrence Cordes’ 2020 Queens Plate winner Mighty Heart and Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s recent 7 ¼-length allowance winner Sprawl.

The field for the Blame (from the rail out with jockey and trainer): Mighty Heart (James Graham, Josie Carroll); Sprawl (Brian Hernandez Jr., Tommy Drury); Night Ops (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Guest Suite (Manny Esquivel, Cipriano Contreras); American Dubai (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); South Bend (Tyler Gaffalione, Bill Mott); and Silver Dust (Beschizza, Calhoun).

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

The Blame is named in honor of the nine-time winning champion horse. Trained by Al Stall Jr. Blame upset Zenyatta in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs where he was a three-quarter length winner of that year’s Stephen Foster.

*************************************************************

GRADE I WINNER PARIS LIGHTS FACES GRADE II WINNER ENVOUTANTE IN $150,000 SHAWNEE WinStar Stablemates Racing’s Grade I winner Paris Lights will clash with Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farms’ two-time graded stakes winner Envoutante in Saturday’s $150,000 Shawnee at Churchill Downs, the local prep for the $300,000 Fleur de Lis (Grade II) on June 26.

The Shawnee, run at 1 1/16 miles, will go as Race 7 of 11 with a post time of 3:50 p.m. The race is one of seven stakes events on the Saturday program. The others are the $150,000 Matt Winn (GIII), $150,000 Regret (GIII), $150,000 Aristides (Listed), $150,000 Audubon, $150,000 Blame and $110,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Paris Lights, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, was victorious in mid-July’s $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (GI) at Saratoga. The Curlin filly was on the sidelines until April 2 where she started her 4-year-old season with a half-length score in the $150,000 Distaff Handicap (GIII) at Aqueduct. She enters the Shawnee following a sixth-place effort in the $500,000 La Troienne (GI).

Tyler Gaffalione has the call from post No. 8.

Envoutante, trained by Kenny McPeek, will enter the Shawnee following a one-length defeat to Shedaresthedevil in the La Troienne (GI). Previously, the Uncle Mo filly recorded graded stakes scores in the $200,000 Falls City (GII) and $100,000 Remington Park Oaks (GIII). Overall, Envoutante sports a record of 11-4-2-2 with earnings of $451,528.

Brian Hernandez Jr. has the return call from post 7.

The complete field for the Shawnee from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Microcap (James Graham, Grant Forster); La Renoleta (ARG) (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Istan Council (Joe Rocco Jr., Larry Jones); Miss Bigly (Martin Garcia, Phil D’Amato); High Regard (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver); Goodbye Earl (Drayden VanDyke, Dave Vance); Envoutante (Hernandez, McPeek); and Paris Lights (Gaffalione, Mott).

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

*************************************************************

JEFF RUBY STEAKS WINNER LIKE THE KING TRANSITIONS BACK TO TURF IN $150,000 AUDUBON – M Racing Group’s $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III) winner Like the King will switch surfaces to turf as the headliner in Saturday’s $150,000 Audubon at Churchill Downs.

The Audubon, run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as Race 5 of 11 with a post time of 2:45 p.m. The race is one of seven stakes events on the Saturday’s 11-race Stephen Foster Preview Day program. The others are the $150,000 Matt Winn (GIII), $150,000 Regret (GIII), $150,000 Aristides (Listed), $150,000 Blame, $150,000 Shawnee and $110,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Wesley Ward, Like the King garnered enough points for a spot in the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) with his one-length victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks. The colt crossed the wire 12th in the Kentucky Derby after he was taken off the pace and failed to close ground. Like the King will be attempting his first victory on the grass since he broke his maiden more than eight months ago.

Chris Landeros will have the mount from post No. 2.

Among Like the King’s rivals that entered the Audubon is Steve Landers Racing’s two-time stakes winner Royal Prince. Trained by Brad Cox, Royal Prince recorded consecutive stakes victories over the winter in the $75,000 Black Gold at Fair Grounds and the $75,000 Bayou City at Sam Houston. The gray son of Cairo Prince had a traffic-filled trip in the $500,000 American Turf (GII) on Kentucky Derby Day and finished sixth.

Florent Geroux has the mount from post 8.

The full field for the Audubon from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Palazzi (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse); Like the King (Landeros, Ward); Cave Hill (Declan Cannon, Brendan Walsh); Hidden Enemy (IRE) (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Haddassah (Mitchell Murrill, Kevin Attard); Cellist (Julien Leparoux, Rusty Arnold II); Holy Vow (David Cabrera, John Ortiz); and Royal Prince (Geroux, Cox).

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

*************************************************************

OPENING VERSE WINNER SET PIECE (GB) LEADS FIELD IN $110,000 DOUGLAS PARK OVERNIGHT STAKES –

Juddmonte’s seven-time winner and recent $105,000 Opening Verse Overnight Stakes hero Set Piece (GB) will attempt consecutive victories over the Matt Winn Turf Course in Saturday’s $110,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The Douglas Park, run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, can be used as a prep to the $250,000 Wise Dan (GII) on June 26. The Douglas Park is one of seven stakes events on Stephen Foster Preview Day and will go as Race 11 at 5:58 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m. The race will share the spotlight with the $150,000 Matt Winn (GIII), $150,000 Regret (GIII), $150,000 Audubon, $150,000 Blame, $150,000 Shawnee and $110,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes.

Set Piece, a 5-year-old gelded son of Dansili, was transitioned to trainer Brad Cox from Hugo Palmer in early 2020. Since arriving in the U.S., Set Piece has recorded four wins and a runner-up effort. Two of Set Piece’s victories came over the Matt Winn Turf Course including his stateside debut last June.

Florent Geroux has the mount from post No. 8.

The complete field for the Douglas Park from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Artemus Eagle (Gabriel Saez, Waylon Cundiff); Another Mystery (Tyler Gaffalione, Chris Block); Parlor (Ricardo Santana Jr., Mike Maker); Ramsey Solution (Julien Leparoux, Wesley Ward); Pioneer Spirit (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); Split the Wickets (Rafael Bejarano, Tom Van Berg); Logical Myth (Adam Beschizza, Joe Sharp); Set Piece (GB) (Geroux, Cox); and Gray’s Fable (James Graham, Roger Attfield).

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