Churchill roundup: Graded stakes fill Derby undercard

Program Trading wins Turf Classic by a head

Program Trading outdueled Naval Power by a head after racing as a team through the final eighth of a mile to win the 38th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Turf Classic for 4-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, Program Trading completed the mile and an eighth on a turf course rated as “good” in 1:50.30. It is the fourth victory in the race for Brown.

Never Surprised led the field of 10 through fractions of 24.48, 49.51 and 1:14.36 as Naval Power under Frankie Dettori held a stalking position in second and Program Trading received a ground-saving trip in third.

At the top of the stretch, Naval Power struck the front with Webslinger making a bold bid on the outside and Program Trading tipping off the inside into the two path.

Prat sent Program Trading through a narrow opening along the rail inside of Naval Power and drew even at the eighth pole and then prevailed in the final strides. In winning his third Grade 1 race, Program Trading won for the fifth time in six starts.

Program Trading paid his backers $10.18, $5.26 and $4.14. Naval Power returned $4.34 and $3.60 and finished two lengths in front of Webslinger, who paid $6.92 to show under Javier Castellano.

Finishing another nose back in fourth was Integration, who was followed in order by Far Bridge, Siege of Boston, favored I’m Very Busy, Anglophile, Never Surprised and Cellist.

“I was able to save ground all the way around," Prat said. "I had a chance to squeeze myself through on the inside. It was a great trip for my horse; he was very, very brave.”

Gun Pilot is on target in Churchill Downs Stakes

Gun Pilot surged to the front at the eighth pole and drew off to a 2 1/2-length victory over Here Mi Song to win the 89th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Churchill Downs for 4-year-olds and up on Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Cristian Torres, Gun Pilot completed the seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:21.95. It is the second win in the race for Asmussen, who saddled Mitole in 2019 and represents the first Grade I win for Torres.

Here Mi Song raced off to fractions of :22.66 and :44.87 with Zozos in closest pursuit and favored Hoist the Gold tracking in the three path in third. On the far turn, Torres has Gun Pilot on the move behind the top three.

At the top of the stretch, Gun Pilot moved back toward the inside and split Zozos and Hoist the Gold and took aim at the leader with clear sailing and pushed past at the eighth pole.

Gun Pilot returned $12.68, $7.20 and $5.04. Here Mi Song, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $18.86 and $10.10 and finished a neck in front of Zozos, who paid $4.58 to show under Florent Geroux.

It was another two lengths back to Raise Cain, who was followed in order by Hoist the Gold, Mr. Wireless, Tejano Twist, Track Mate, Minnesota Ready and Three Technique.

"I’m really excited, I’ve been looking for this Grade 1 for a long time," Torres said. "I just come to ride. I study my races, I do my homework. I just come out here to do the best job that I can. I’m very happy that I finally got one. Gun Pilot is a great horse. The Asmussen team spotted him very well. He’s an easy horse to ride.”

Asmussen said, “This is so special. It is very special for Mr. (Goncalo) Torrealba (of owner Three Chimneys Farm). This is a special horse. I really believe in him. Cristian believes in him too. Seven-eighths is a good distance for him. We wanted to make it simple for him today. Nothing special in the way of tactics. Get him out in the middle of the track and then let him do his close. It worked out perfectly.”

Trikari scores 47-1 upset in American Turf

Trikari, the longest shot on the board at 47-1, overhauled longtime leader Formidable Man at the sixteenth pole to post a 1 1/2-length victory in the 33rd running of the Grade 2 $600,000 American Turf for 3-year-olds Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Graham Motion and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Trikari completed the 1 1/16 miles on a turf course rated as good in 1:43.59.

Formidable Man led the field through fractions of 23.85, 48.15 and 1:12.96 with favored Legend of Time tracking in second and Trikari getting a rail-skimming trip just behind the leaders.

At the top of the stretch, Legend of Time made his bid to overtake the leader only to have Formidable Man maintain his advantage. Behind the top two, Rispoli angled Trikari off the rail into the three path for clear sailing that propelled him to the front passing the sixteenth pole.

Trikari returned $96.34, $40.20 and $22.98. Formidable Man, ridden by Luis Saez, returned $23.22 and $14.18 and finished a half-length in front of Lagynos, who paid $19.60 to show under Cristian Torres.

It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Cugino, who was followed in order by Legend of Time, Agate Road, Neat, Noted, Can Group, Abrumar, Blue Eyed George, Set, Lord Bullingdon and Stay Hot.

“This horse is a very special horse to my career," Rispoli said. "I won my 2,000th race aboard him, and I can’t thank his connections enough for keeping me aboard. I hope we get just as lucky in the Kentucky Derby on Endlessly.”

Motion said, “it was really special performance from a very nice and improving colt. He ran a great race.”

Chili Flag keys Brown trifecta in Churchill Distaff Turf Mile

Chili Flag outdueled stablemate Coppice by a neck to win the 39th running of the $665,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) for fillies and mares Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Chili Flag completed the mile on a turf course rated as good in 1:35.95. It was Brown’s fourth consecutive victory in this race and fifth overall. For Ortiz, it was his third victory in the race and his third stakes victory of the afternoon.

Ag Bullet set an unopposed pace of 23.40 and 47.20 seconds as Chili Flag raced next to last down the backstretch just behind Coppice. On the far turn, Ag Bullet yielded and Walkathon took over.

At the head of the lane as the field spread across the track, Coppice took the inside route while Chili Flag was widest of all. Chili Flag hit the front at the sixteenth pole and prevailed in the run to the finish line with a third Brown runner, Delahaye, finishing third.

Chili Flag returned $10.06, $4.52 and $2.96. Coppice, ridden by Frankie Dettori, returned $4.18 and $3.02 and finished 1 ¾ lengths in front of Delahaye, who paid $4.04 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.

It was another 2 ¾ lengths back to Mission of Joy with Walkathon, Ascendancy, Cairo Consort, Evvie Jets, Ag Bullet and Not So Close following in order.

"She’s great, she knows what she has to do," Ortiz said. "I took her inside and let her sit, let her feel comfortable and find her stride. I was able to roll with her when I had to. Every time that I’ve ridden her, she’s given me that confidence to come running late."

Brown said Chili Flag "is a rapidly improving horse, I was so impressed with her last start in the Honey Fox. I thought this race made a lot of sense and she showed that late kick again. She’s a real player in the division. Sometimes these horses, you give them enough time and they start to improve. She’s just had a great winter of development and rest and since the Honey Fox she’s really moved forward.”

Vahva turns tables on Alva Starr to win Derby City Distaff

Vahva overtook nemesis Alva Starr at the eighth pole and drew clear for a two-length victory in the 38th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Derby City Distaff for fillies and mares Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., the winner completed the seven furlongs over a main track listed as good in 1:21.75.

Spirit Wind set a pressured pace of 22.36 seconds and 45.12 seconds, with Alva Starr tracking a length back while Vahva raced in the clear three wide in fourth. Leaving the far turn, Alva Starr swept past Spirit Wind but Vahva was right on her heels.

Alva Starr, who had defeated Vahva by a half-length in the Madison (G1) at Keeneland last month, tenaciously clung to the lead only to have Vahva draw even at the eighth pole and push by for her third victory in as many starts at Churchill Downs.

Vahva now has defeated Alva Starr in two of their three meetings dating back to last fall’s Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland that Vahva won by a half-length.

Favored in the field of 10, Vahva returned $5.44, $3.46 and $2.76. Alva Starr, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $3.66 and $2.92 and finished three-quarters of a length in front of Flying Connection, who paid $5.20 to show under Florent Geroux.

It was another half-length back to Chi Town Lady, who was followed in order by Sterling Silver, Three Witches, Red Carpet Ready, Olivia Darling and American Band.

"The last time I rode her, I didn’t know her very well and it wasn’t one of my best rides," Ortiz said. "Today, I was able to sit a perfect trip and turning for home she really finished strong for me."

DeVaux said, "that was an unbelievable performance to win a Grade 1 on this type of stage is so special, DeVaux said. "It’s really hard to describe. I’m just so happy with everyone involved with this horse and our team."

Cogburn dominates in Twin Spires Turf Sprint

Cogburn took advantage of an outside post for clear running and went on to post a 2 1/4-length victory in the 30th running of the $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Cogburn covered the 5 1/2 furlongs on a turf course rated as good in 1:03.16. The victory was the third in the last four years in this race for Ortiz.

Cogburn took the lead out of the gate and sparred with Coppola and Mo Stash through an opening quarter-mile in 22.61 seconds and a half-mile in 45.27.

At the top of the stretch, Cogburn opened up and never was threatened in the run to the wire.

Cogburn, owned by Clark Brewster, and Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt’, returned $18.78, $10.60 and $5.96. Filo Di Arianna rallied to get second under John Velazquez and returned $24.50 and $12.68, with favored Mischief Magic finishing another three-quarters of a length back in third under Frankie Dettori and paying $4.04 to show.

It was another three-quarters of a length back to Coppola, who was followed in order by Mo Stash, Eamonn, Motorious, Front Run the Fed, Mister Mmmmm, Big Invasion, Bad Beat Brian, Axthelm, Arrest Me Red and Candy Man Rocket.

"He was sharp, the trainer had him ready today," Ortiz said. "The way he broke, Steve (Asmussen) told me he was ready. Today he was running so good, there was no stopping him.”

Asmussen said Cogburn has found a home on turf. "Obviously, his turf races are beyond excellent, and we’re very fortunate to have him. That is typical of him (to break that well). I was so concerned about the outside draw, and he took care of that in one jump. We thought he was doing extremely well coming into the race, this was a very big race coming off the layoff. We were concerned when he drew the 14 hole, that’s a lot to overcome. But his break cleared that problem. That’s what he’s capable of, and that’s what we’ll be getting to campaign the rest of the year.”