Churchill: Tapit Trice headlines 4 graded stakes next Saturday

Highly regarded colt Tapit Trice, the winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass last year and seventh-place finisher of the Kentucky Derby, is set for his 4-year-old debut against 10 rivals entered for next Saturday’s $275,000 Blame Stakes (G3), the featured race on Stephen Foster preview day at Churchill Downs.

Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Blame is the local prep for the June 29 running of the $1 million Stephen Foster (G1). It will go as the 10th of 11 races with a post time of 5:27 p.m. EDT. The first race will start at 12:45 p.m.

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Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Tapit Trice has been away from the races since Aug. 26, when he finished third to Arcangelo and Disarm in the Travers (G1) at Saratoga. The striking gray son of Tapit has been based at Churchill Downs since late April as he continued his preparations for his seasonal bow.

Before the Travers, Tapit Trice bravely defeated Verifying in the Blue Grass to become one of the top contenders for the 2023 Kentucky Derby. There he had a tough journey to finish seventh as the slight 9-2 second choice in the wagering behind Angel of Empire.

Flavien Prat will unite with Tapit Trice in the Blame for the first time since he finished third in his career debut. The duo will break from post 5.

Other accomplished older horses that were entered for the Blame include Clark (G2) winner Trademark, Oaklawn Handicap (G2) runner-up Highland Falls and recent Ben Ali (G3) runner-up War Campaign.

Xigera seeks rebound in Shawnee

Rigney Racing’s accomplished 4-year-old filly Xigera will face a talented field of nine fillies and mares who were entered for next Saturday’s $275,000 Shawnee Stakes (G3). Post time for this eighth race on the card will be 4:23 p.m. EDT.

Conditioned by Phil Bauer, Xigera had a stellar 3-year-old campaign. winning the Mother Goose (G2) at Aqueduct, Falls City (G3) at Churchill Downs and Tepin Stakes at Ellis Park.

The daughter of Nyquist made her seasonal debut on Kentucky Oaks day, when she finished a disappointing fifth in the La Troienne (G1) over the sloppy surface.

Jockey Julien Leparoux, who has ridden Xigera in all but one of her 11 lifetime starts, will be aboard in the Shawnee from post 6.

Other accomplished fillies and mares entered in the Shawnee include Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) heroine Wet Paint, Grade 2 winner Hoosier Philly and recently dominant allowance winner Scylla.

Ottoman Fleet headlines Arlington

Godolphin’s talented turf specialist Ottoman Fleet headlines a field of eight older horses entered for next Saturday’s $275,000 Arlington Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, the Arlington will go as race 6 at 3:18 p.m. EDT.

Trained by top European conditioner Charlie Appleby, Ottoman Fleet was a Group 2 and 3 winner in Europe before making his stateside debut May 4 at Aqueduct, where he finished a close second to Master Piece in the Fort Marcy (G2).

The 5-year-old gelded son of Sea The Stars will be ridden in the Arlington Stakes by Flavien Prat from post 1.

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s seven-time winner Emmanuel also was entered in the Arlington. Trained by Todd Pletcher, his stakes-filled résumé includes victories in the Pennine Ridge (G2), Tampa Bay Stakes (G3), Poker (G3) and two wins in the Canadian Turf (G3).

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will be in the irons on Emmanuel from post 2.

Buchu leads field in Regret

Rigney Racing’s two-time Grade 2 winner Buchu leads a field of 10 3-year-old fillies in next Saturday’s $275,000 Regret Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. Run at 1 1/8 miles on turf, the Regret field will go to post at 4:55 p.m. EDT in race 9.

Trained by Phil Bauer, Buchu began her 3-year-old campaign April 6 at Keeneland, where she narrowly defeated Mo Fox Givin in the Appalachian Stakes (G2). As a 2-year-old, the daughter of Justify cruised to a 3 3/4-length score in the Jessamine (G2) at Keeneland prior to shipping to Santa Anita, where she finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Jockey Martín García retains the mount on Buchu in the Regret and will break from post 6.

One of Buchu’s rivals in the Regret is the ultra-consistent Way to Be Marie, the recent runner-up in the Edgewood Stakes (G2). Owned by Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables and trained by Rob Atras, Way to Be Marie has finished outside the top two only once in her six-race career.

The daughter of Not This Time took the lead at the head of the stretch in the Edgewood, run early this month on Kentucky Oaks day, but was caught in the shadow of the wire by Dynamic Pricing.

Jockey Florent Géroux will have the return-call from the rail.