Brisset goes for graded-stakes double at Churchill on Saturday

Trainer Rodolphe Brisset will attempt a stakes double Saturday with World Record in the Grade 3, $275,000 Aristides Stakes and Royal Spa in the $275,000 Shawnee Stakes (G3), part of a stakes-filled afternoon on Stephen Foster preview day at Churchill Downs.

Brisset’s day begins in race 6 where WinStar Farm and BBN Racing’s World Record will step back into graded-stakes company for the six-furlong Aristides. The 4-year-old son of Gun Runner won Saratoga’s Amsterdam (G2) at 3 and returned with an allowance win earlier this month at Churchill Downs.

“He’s really matured now as a 4-year-old,” Brisset said. “He came out of the allowance race great and has put in two pretty strong works. We like what we’ve seen so far.”

World Record drew the outside post in a field of seven sprinters that includes 7-5 morning line favorite Skelly, who will break from post No. 6.

“Skelly is very fast,” Brisset said. “We have to find out where we belong. Our goal is to try and win a Grade 1 with him if he’s good enough. To find out, we have to face competition like Skelly. The draw is what it is. We’ll let Flavien (Prat) play the break and go from there. My job is to bring him up to the gate in the best shape possible and then it’s in Flavien’s hands. We think he matches up well in this race. He doesn’t need the lead. He’s won from off the pace before.”

In race 8, Brisset will saddle Breffni Farm’s Royal Spa in the 1 1/16-mile Shawnee for fillies. The 5-year-old daughter of Violence enters the race off a victory in the one-mile Heavenly Cause Stakes at Laurel Park.

“It’s a little tricky with Royal Spa because I’ve tried her at two turns twice, once as a 2-year-old and again at 3,” Brisset said. “It didn’t work out well, but I blame the trainer. I wasn’t very nice to her, running her back on short rest both times. It looks like now, as a 5-year-old, she’s more mature. I just loved her race last time at Laurel. Even after the wire, the gallop out was solid. (Jockey Mychel Sanchez) called me after the race and said two turns might be worth trying. Then I got a call that Flavien (Prat) lost his mount in the race. So, putting everything together, I think it’s the right spot to try two turns.”

Stephen Foster preview day at Churchill Downs begins at 12:45 p.m. EDT. The Aristides is scheduled as race 6 at 3:18 p.m. with the Shawnee going as race 8 at 4:23 p.m.