Churchill Downs: Chunk of Gold is favored in Bourbon Flight

Chunk of Gold, winner of the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby and ninth in Kentucky Derby 2025, will return to Churchill Downs as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s $300,000 Bourbon Flight. The 3-year-old colt was cross-entered in Friday’s $250,000 St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park, where he drew post 11, but his connections opted for the Bourbon Flight.

Trained by Ethan West, Chunk of Gold's 2025 campaign included a runner-up finish in the Ohio Derby (G3) and a convincing victory in the West Virginia Derby.

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“Jareth (Loveberry) did a great job to get Chunk into a good position on the lead, and he was very impressive that night,” West said. “I think he fits very well with the field Saturday and has a really good post.”

Loveberry has the return call on Chunk of Gold in the Bourbon Flight and will break from post No. 5.

“He’s doing great at Turfway and not to say he can’t handle shipping because he’s done great doing so, going to Louisiana this winter along with Ohio and West Virginia,” West said. “But this will give him a good opportunity to return to Churchill where he ran well in the Derby, and it’s a quick van ride down I-71.”

Run at 1 3/16 miles, the Bourbon Flight is part of a stakes quartet along with the Dogwood (G3), Harrods Creek and Seneca Overnight Stakes. The Bourbon Flight goes as race 10 on the 11-race card with a post time of 5:29 p.m. EDT. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Four others are cross-entered in both the Bourbon Flight and St. Louis Derby, Admiral Dennis, Brotha Keny, Excite and Hypnus.

Trainer Kenny McPeek reported Hypnus is likely to run in the St. Louis Derby.