Churchill Downs: Emery tries to rebound in Chicago Stakes

Multiple graded stakes winner Emery will attempt to rebound from her fifth-place finish in last month’s Grade 1, $1 million Derby City Distaff when she faces 10 accomplished sprinters as the 5-2 morning line favorite in Saturday night’s Grade 2, $300,000 Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Emery, a speedy 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready, scored victories last year in the $350,000 Raven Run (G2) and $175,000 Victory Ride (G3) but has yet to find the winner’s circle in three starts this season.

Trained by Brad Cox for Stonestreet Stables, Emery completed her major preparation for the Chicago on Sunday with a half-mile breeze in 48.4 seconds. Since then, she’s returned to the track to gallop and, on Thursday, schooled in the paddock.

“She’s a fast filly and has been extremely consistent throughout her career,” Cox’s assistant trainer Trace Messina said. “The post probably isn’t ideal, breaking from the rail, but she has speed if she needs to go. She’s also proven she can sit just off the pace if need be. The Derby City Distaff was disappointing but the race came back pretty productive with Ways and Means winning the Bed o’ Roses during Belmont weekend and Scylla finishing second.”

Emery, purchased for $235,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, is out of multiple stakes winner Athena, who was trained locally by Helen Pitts and finished seventh in the 2017 Chicago Stakes.

Saturday’s 11-race program begins at 6 p.m. EDT, with the Chicago Stakes slated as race 9 at 10:11 p.m. EDT.