Discover the Next Racing Stars
Churchill Downs, Race 7: Barnes - A Promising Debut
Photo: Max Sharp / Eclipse Sportswire. Barnes, a widely hyped $3.2 million yearling acquisition, made his mark on the track with a successful debut at Churchill Downs. In a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race, this 2-year-old son of Into Mischief showed great potential. He rated behind the leader through splits of 21.90 and 44.73 seconds, demonstrating his ability to stay in the pack. However, he raced greenly down the homestretch, drifting out and changing leads at the wrong time. But despite these minor setbacks, he managed to get up and beat the pacesetter by a head in a sharp time of 1:02.97. With more experience, this Bob Baffert trainee has the potential to become a serious contender on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
How did he achieve this remarkable feat? Well, Martin Garcia managed to get Barnes up to nip a game Innovator on the wire. This debuting son of Into Mischief, trained by Bob Baffert for Zedan Racing, is definitely one to watch in the future.
Fair Grounds, Race 9: Montalcino - A Strong Stakes Debut
Montalcino ran a strong race in his stakes debut at the Fair Grounds. In the six-furlong Thanksgiving Classic, he opened up a two-length lead through fast fractions of 21.83 and 44.65 seconds, showing his early speed. He led gamely throughout and finished second by a head against graded stakes winner and reigning Thanksgiving Classic winner Miles Ahead. The final time of 1:09.03 was a strong effort, and Montalcino can build on this in his future races. He is definitely a horse worth keeping an eye on.
Del Mar, Race 8: Accuracy - A Maiden Special Weight Winner
Accuracy was miles ahead in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita last month. She led all the way, trouncing her rivals by 15 lengths in a fast time of 1:42.44. This powerful performance yielded a 107 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form. Now, she will seek to continue her momentum in a one-mile $40,000 allowance optional claimer at Del Mar. Facing only four rivals, a repeat of her maiden win should send her straight back to the winner's circle.
Gulfstream Park, Race 6: Stunner - A New Challenge
Stunner has competed with aplomb on the New York Racing Association circuit. Her last two starts, both at Aqueduct, resulted in a 6 1/4-length maiden win and a 3 1/2-length drubbing in the Tempted. Now, she is facing fellow Florida-breds in the 1 1/16-mile FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl, which will be her two-turn debut. Squaring off against state-restricted competition, Stunner is expected to be tough to beat for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox, who has a 28 percent success rate saddling dirt horses at Gulfstream since 2019.
Churchill Downs, Race 7: Disco Time - A Rising Star
The Juddmonte homebred Disco Time impressed in his debut at Churchill Downs. In a seven-furlong maiden special weight race, he pressed the early pace and then took over to prevail by 3 3/4 lengths. This 2-year-old son of Not This Time will now take his next step up the class ladder in a one-mile $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs. Stretching out over a one-turn mile shouldn't be a problem for him, as he is favored at 8-5 on the morning line to defeat eight rivals. If he wins as expected, a future on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is likely.
Gulfstream Park, Race 10: Rated by Merit - The Fastest Juvenile
According to Beyer Speed Figures, Rated by Merit is the fastest juvenile in the country. He owns three of the 13 highest numbers posted by 2-year-olds this year, including the top-ranked 99 he delivered when winning the seven-furlong FTBOA Florida Sire Affirmed at Gulfstream last month. Now, he will make his route debut in the 1 1/16-mile FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality. As the 3-5 morning line favorite, he is easily the fastest entrant on paper and is expected to shine.
Churchill Downs, Race 9: Good Cheer and Eclatant - The Kentucky Oaks Contenders
Cox's deep stable is well-armed in the Golden Rod (G2), a 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier. Godolphin homebred Good Cheer is unbeaten and unchallenged in three starts. She made her Road to the Kentucky Oaks debut in the 1 1/16-mile Rags to Riches at Churchill last month, winning by 4 3/4 lengths. The beautifully bred daughter of Medaglia d'Oro out of Wedding Toast is the 4-5 morning-line favorite to keep her unbeaten record intact. But Eclatant is a promising challenger. The daughter of Into Mischief is 2-for-2, having won her June debut over future graded-stakes winner La Cara and recently returning from a summer layoff to win a $100,000 allowance optional claimer dashing six furlongs at Keeneland. With her pedigree, she has the potential to stretch out over 1 1/16 miles and has a bright future ahead.
Churchill Downs, Race 4: Booth - A Comeback Story
Booth isn't the most consistent horse in training, but on his best day, he's quite good. He won his November 2023 debut at Keeneland by 5 1/4 lengths over future stakes winner Nash, and in February, he trounced a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn by 4 1/4 lengths. However, he disappeared from the work tab following a fifth-place finish in the April 5 Lafayette at Keeneland and hasn't raced since. But recent sharp workouts, including a bullet five furlongs from the Churchill Downs starting gate in 59.80 seconds, suggest that this Steve Asmussen-trained 3-year-old is ready to make a comeback. He will be competing in a 6 1/2-furlong $125,000 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs and is expected to give a competitive shot.