Head to Head: Split opinions on the Shawnee at Churchill Downs
The Grade 3 Shawnee Stakes attracted a field of nine older fillies and mares. The 1 1/16-mile event is one of five Grade 3 events on Churchill Downs’s Saturday card that serve as local preps for Stephen Foster preview day on June 28.
In 2020, Dunbar Road, a three-time Breeders’ Cup Distaff participant, won the inaugural Shawnee Stakes. Fast forward to 2023, and Idiomatic made history by setting a stakes record of 1:42.13. This marked the beginning of a remarkable six-race win streak for Idiomatic, culminating in victories in the Distaff and earning her the first of two Eclipse Awards for champion older dirt female.
Where’s My Ring will make her first start for new trainer Peter Miller, hoping to build on a solid third-place effort in the Apple Blossom (G1). Gin Gin, making her second start for trainer Brendan Walsh, looks to prove that her Doubledogdare (G3) victory was no fluke. With 51 career starts under her girth, Free Like a Girl vies for her first win in a graded stakes.
Carded as the eighth of 11 races, the Shawnee post time is slated for 4:23 p.m. EDT.
We put our heads together to give you a rundown of everything you need to know about the field.
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Ashley |
Laurie |
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I have to hand it to Peter Miller. He gave handicappers as complicated of a Hokey Pokey dance with this one filly as the entire Kentucky Derby field combined. Last seen finishing third in the Apple Blossom (G1) behind Thorpedo Anna and Free Like a Girl, Where’s My Ring will be making her first start for new trainer Miller. Under Brinkerhoff’s tutelage, the filly also has a front-running optional claiming win under her girth for the year. She dazzled in a 12 1/4-length tour de force, earning a career and field-best 116 Equibase speed figure. Overall, this filly leaves a bit to be desired. It took her eight attempts to break her maiden, and she finally did so in last year’s Gazelle (G3). That put her in the Kentucky Oaks field, where she finished 10th, beaten by 18 1/4 lengths. Her overall graded stakes record stands at 7: 1-1-1. Miller is 27% wins with a 53% in-the-money clip with trainees first after the trainer switch. Conversely, he’s just 9% wins with a 34% in-the-money rate on the Kentucky circuit over the last five years. Luis Saez will ride the filly for the first time. Exotics. |
Where’s My Ring was given a vacation after going off form last July. She tuned up with a third-place finish sprinting against optional claimers at Santa Anita in February. With the conditioning under her girth, Where’s My Ring showed great improvement with a commanding 12-length victory at Oaklawn over a field of lesser competition. Her Brisnet Speed Rating increased by 15 points in that race. In the Apple Blossom (G1), Where’s My Ring faced tougher competition from Thorpedo Anna, Free Like a Girl and Wild About Hilary. She was close to the brisk pace set by Wild About Hilary but was going up and down in the stretch, finishing third and unable to gain ground on Thorpedo Anna or Free Like a Girl. Now in the care of Peter Miller, Where’s My Ring could regroup in the Shawnee. However, the rail position does her no favor. Exotics. |
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2. Corningstone |
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Trained by Kenny McPeek, Corningstone enters off a fifth-place finish in the Bayakoa (G3), six lengths behind winner Wild Bout Hilary and Free Like a Girl, who were separated by just a head. The 5-year-old is a multiple stakes winner, with most of her victories at that level coming in Indiana-bred stakes races. She did win a couple of open stakes at Oaklawn Park over the winter, however. Corningstone does like Churchill Downs, though, with a 4: 1-3-0 record, including a runner-up effort in the Locust Grove (G2) in September 2024. I’m not wild about her chances from a class perspective, though her record over the course does give me pause. Ultimately, i'll pass. |
Typically a pacesetter-presser, Corningstone was thrown off her usual strategy when she had a slow start in the Bayacoa (G3). Despite initially falling behind, she managed to catch up quickly because of the slow pace. But, jockey Julien Leparoux fought with her down the backstretch. When it came time to run, Corningstone was tired from fighting, hated the kickback and just wanted to return to the barn. She finished six lengths behind Wild About Hilary and Free Like a Girl. The Ken McPeek trainee returns off a brief freshening with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle. Corningstone runs well off the layoff, and her late-pace figures are competitive with this group. Exotics.
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3. Royal Spa |
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Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Royal Spa enters off a game neck victory in the Heavenly Cause Stakes at Laurel. It was her first and only stakes victory from 12 attempts. Royal Spa has just two prior attempts at 1 1/16 miles and beyond and finished off the board in both races, which incidentally were both graded events. She posted a career-best 101 Equibase speed figure two starts back when running second in the Barbara Fritchie and then regressed to a 91 last out. Brisset has 14% wins with a 38% in-the-money rate in graded stakes over the past year. Pass. |
Royal Spa will try to carry her speed an extra 1/16 mile against more accomplished fillies. In April, the Rodolphe Brisset trainee got brave on the front end in the Heavenly Cause Stakes over a muddy Laurel track. The victory marked her first win since the previous April, although she earned four checks for lesser awards as a sprinter-miler. Although Royal Spa’s 96 late-pace figure is the field’s highest, she’s facing more accomplished fillies and figures to be part of the pace. Pass.
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Trained by Tom Amoss, Hoosier Philly enters off a runner-up effort as the odds-on favorite in the Dig a Diamond Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Once a top Kentucky Oaks prospect, Hoosier Philly really never moved forward off her juvenile form. She went undefeated in three starts as a 2-year-old but has since won just three additional races. This year, she’s 3: 0-1-1, finishing third to Alpine Princess’s second in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) and second to In Just My Heels’s third in the Dig a Diamond. Hoosier Philly is 5: 3-0-0 at Churchill Downs and 8: 2-0-2 at 1 1/16 mile. Edgar Morales has the return call. Exotics. |
Hoosier Philly seeks a better outcome following her fourth-place finish in last year's Shawnee Stakes. Since then, she recorded a victory in the Joseph E. Spanky Broussard Memorial, finished a close third in a blanket finish with Alpine Princess in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3), and most recently, beat In Just My Heels for second place in the Dig A Diamond Stakes. The pretty gray Tom Amoss trainee could improve in her second start off the layoff. She likes to be close to the pace and must contend with others with the same running style. Her Brisnet ratings are middling, but Hoosier Philly could pick up a minor award. Exotics.
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Trained by Tanner Tracy, Wild Bout Hilary enters off an absolute thumping in the Apple Blossom (G1). A confirmed front-runner, Wild Bout Hilary set the very early tempo and then spit the bit as soon as she lost the lead. Wild Bout Hilary is perfectly capable of getting the 1 1/16 mile distance so long as she gets a soft, uncontested lead. She’s traded blows with Free Like a Girl in three of her last four races, with Free Like a Girl coming away with the 2-1 advantage. Tracy is 3: 1-0-0 in graded stakes over the last year. C.J. McMahon has the mount. Pass. |
A confirmed pacesetter, Wild Bout Hilary carries her speed as long as she can lull them to sleep. This worked in the Pago Hop Stakes and Bayakoa (G3), but her new jockey in the Apple Blossom (G1) went too fast, and the Tanner Tracy trainee fizzled like a poor election result. Wild Bout Hilary has a string of bullet works and is the only confirmed pacesetter in the field. She could be pressed, but her regular rider, C.J. McMahon, is in the saddle and knows what to do. Exotics.
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Trained by Brad Cox, Alpine Princess enters off a runner-up effort as the odds-on favorite in the Top Flight Stakes. It was a short field of four, and she chased the winner through easy fractions. Before that, she was a well-beaten fourth in the Azeri (G2), which was won by Thorpedo Anna and featured Free Like a Girl running second. She finished a half-length in front of Hoosier Philly when running second in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) in her 2025 debut. Her recent speed figures have been ho hum, but this is a spot in which she very clearly fits. She’s 6: 2-3-1 in listed and grade three stakes. By comparison, she’s 3: 0-0-0 in Grade 1 and Grade 2 races. The cut back in distance and the larger field size are both positive indicators for Alpine Princess. Florent Geroux has the call. Contender. |
Alpine Princess hasn’t run at the same track twice in over a year, but she takes her game with her. The Brad Cox trainee missed the photo in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3), had trouble in the Azeri (G2), and was a clear second in the 1 1/8 mile Top Flight Stakes in her last start. Alpine Princess rarely misses a check and is competitive in this field. Contender.
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7. Gin Gin |
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Trained by Brendan Walsh, Gin Gin enters off a career-best effort in the Doubledogdare (G3) as the longest price in the salty field. After initially pressing the pace, Gin Gin took over entering the final turn and gradually drew off to a 5 1/2-length win with a 103 Equibase speed figure. It was her first start for Walsh and Jose Ortiz’s first time riding the filly. In her only other race this year, Gin Gin was fifth in an optional claimer off an 8 1/2-month layoff. Ortiz has the return call, and if Gin Gin really has turned the page in her career, she’ll be dangerous here. Contender. |
After a hit-or-miss form and a troubled trip in the Kentucky Oaks, Gin Gin switched to Brendan Walsh’s barn. Under Walsh's guidance, she reverted to her favored pace-pressing running style resulting in an eye-catching 5 1/4-length Doubledogdare (G3) victory over a competitive herd of graded winners. Gin Gin earned a career-best 95 Brisnet Speed Rating, and her 95 late-pace rating is among the highest in the Shawnee Stakes. Despite other speed types in the field, Gin Gin is comfortable settling a couple of lengths behind before unleashing her finishing kick. Contender.
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Trained by Ron Moquett, In Just My Heels enters off a third-place finish in the Dig a Diamond Stakes. Moquett tried this filly on the Kentucky Oaks trail last year, but she finished off the board in both prep races. She has since won a quartet of allowance races, leading Moquett to try stakes company again. She made her first two starts of 2025, winning ones in allowance company, but has since finished fifth in the Trivista Overnight, second in the Lapatourel Overnight, and third in the Dig a Diamond. Joel Rosario takes over from Rafael Bejarano. Pass. |
In Just My Heels picked up a check in her last pair of starts but was bested by a total of 8 1/2 lengths. The Ron Moquett trainee’s speed ratings are in the low to mid 80s, and she must improve to be competitive here. Pass.
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Trained by Chasey Pomier, Free Like a Girl gets class relief after racing in Grade 1 events in her last two starts. She was a solid second to Thorpedo Anna in the Apple Blossom but could only manage fifth in the La Troienne. 1 1/16 miles isn’t her best distance. She’s 13: 1-6-2, with that sole victory coming in a Louisiana-bred stakes race. With that said, it’s worth pointing out that the Apple Blossom was contested at 1 1/16 mile, making her Grade 1 placed at the distance. Pomier has never won a graded stakes race, but she has a 69% in-the-money rate in graded stakes with Free Like a Bird over the last five years. This isn’t a particularly strong field, so maybe they both get that elusive graded win. Julien Leparoux has the call. Contender. |
Free Like a Girl gets another shot at Alpine Princess, Wild Bout Hilary, Hoosier Philly and Where’s My Ring. The Chasey Pomier trainee has been competitive with graded types, except for a fifth-place finish in this year’s La Troienne (G1). Free Like a Girl has a 0-for-4 record at Churchill. However, she placed second in last year’s La Troienne, and showed speed before fading in subsequent Churchill starts. Free Like a Girl is the outside speed with plenty of quick fillies to her inside, so she may get a wide trip unless she’s used early to get position. As Ashley noted, Free Like a Girl has one victory in 13 starts at 1 1/16 miles. Exotics.
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Final thoughts
Ashley: I fully expect Wild Bout Hilary to sprint out to the early lead. She got away with a 12-clip pace in the Bayakoa (G3) and came away with a narrow victory. She didn’t get that easy lead in the Apple Blossom (G1), and despite not being pushed into quick fractions, she just couldn’t get the job done. She should be joined early by Where’s My Ring and Royal Spa.
Alpine Princess, Gin Gin and Free Like a Girl are my top three. Alpine Princess and Free Like a Girl have never won a graded race, but they’ve both been competitive at this level. Alpine Princess has come close in recent starts but just hasn’t had enough punch in the stretch to overcome a slow pace. Free Like a Girl has been knocking on that door, too, and I think she’s set up for success here with the drop in class. None in this field are of the same caliber as Thorpedo Anna, Raging Sea, etc.
I feel like I’m taking a huge risk with Gin Gin. Her performance in the Doubledogdare (G3) came out of nowhere. After winning the Busanda last year, she ran okay in the Busher and Gazelle (G3) before completely bombing in the Kentucky Oaks. She beat just one rival in her 2025 bow off the long layoff before lighting up the tote board last out. Her Equibase speed figure jumped a whopping 33 points. The worry then is that even if the lightbulb did finally go off for the filly, she could still regress off that career-best effort.
I have a love hate relationship with both Where’s My Ring and Hoosier Philly. Both are quite capable, but they’re also inconsistent. But, Where’s My Ring has that sparkling 116 Equibase speed figure from two starts back. So that’s going to be the deciding factor.
Laurie: In the last five Shawnee races, three of the winning fillies had placed in the top three in their previous race. Additionally, two fillies used the La Troienne as a springboard to Shawnee success.
Running styles have varied, with two pace pressers and closers winning. So far, the rail post isn’t the place to be, with all fillies finishin in fifth through seventh place.
Three favorites won, one was third and another fourth.
I see the pace setup differently. Although I agree Wild Bout Hillary will take up her customary pacesetting position, Corningstone likes to be close, In Just My Heels was closer to the pace last year and with the jock switch to Rosario, she could be more aggressive early, plus Free Like a Girl and may be breathing down their necks for the first half.
Corningstone is one of the most consistent fillies in the field, and her late-pace numbers are solid. She can set or press, likes Churchill and could pull the upset.
I like Gin Gin too, but like Ashley, I’m on the fence. She was lone speed after Tarifa was taken off the Doubledogdare pace and was able to open up in the stretch but won from off the pace last year. My concern is that she has never scored back-to-back wins.
Alpine Princess has been knocking at the graded stakes door. She just missed in a pair of Grade 3s and chased the speed in her last start. She’ll sit off the pace and doesn’t need the lead to win.
Selections
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