Juveniles take center stage at Churchill Downs

 

Thoroughbred racing’s immediate future – and some probable future Kentucky Derby contenders – head to Churchill Downs Oct. 29 for a day of galloping devoted to 2-year-olds.

Eleven races are on the card, and all are for juveniles only.

The Street Sense Stakes heads the card, but there are three other important races: the Rags to Riches Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, and two $200,000 races devoted to horses sired by Spendthrift Farm stallions.

An even-looking field of 10 is entered for the one-mile Rags to Riches Stakes. The morning-line favorite at 3-1 is Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), a winner of both her starts. She came from well back to win her maiden by 3 ¾ lengths at Indiana Grand, and then led all the way to win an allowance at Churchill Downs Sept. 28.

She’s Pretty Lucky (Lookin At Lucky) and Queen Mum (Paynter), both winners at Churchill Downs of their only previous start, are 4-1 morning-line chances. Laurel Park maiden winner Saguaro Row is rated 5-1, while Ohio-bred Missap is a 6-1 chance.

Some good-quality horses start in the two Spendthrift Farm races. In the Spendthrift Juvenile Stallions Stakes, the evens morning-line favorite is Ezmosh (Tizway), a winner of his maiden at his third start and the sixth horse home in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland Oct. 7.

John Tippmann (Tiz Wonderful), second in the Turf Showcase Juvenile Stakes at Kentucky Downs and fifth in the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3), is second favorite at 4-1, with Bourbon Stakes seventh placegetter Captivating Moon (Malibu Moon) and Fight On (Into Mischief) both at 9-2.

In the Spendthrift Juvenile Filly Stallion Stakes, Mia Mischief (Into Mischief) is the evens morning-line favorite after winning her maiden at Keeneland by 16 ¼ lengths. Southampton Way (Into Mischief) has finished second in both the Adirondack Stakes (G2) and the Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes in her career, and also well fancied is Sully (Malibu Moon), who has won two of her four races.