Early Look: Churchill offers 19 stakes aside from those big 2

That mint julep you’re sipping this weekend? You might need a few more to process the 19 undercard stakes races Churchill Downs packed into four days starting Wednesday. Kentucky Derby 2025 might hog the spotlight, but it’s just one piece of a $20 million stakes puzzle.

The Grade 2 Pat Day Mile features Built and Madaket Road, both of whom are bypassing the Derby to run in a race more suitable for their talents. Both horses’ connections believe the one-mile distance offers a better opportunity for success on the Derby undercard rather than challenging the 1 1/4-mile distance in the run for the roses.

Whether you’re chasing big paydays or just soaking in racing’s biggest week, there’s something for everyone under the twin spires this week.

Wednesday

Issac Murphy Marathon, Churchill Downs, 1 1/2 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Lambeth seeks his third win in four starts following a wire-to-wire victory in the Temperence Hill at Oaklawn, where he earned a career-best 100 Beyer, according to Daily Racing Form. The 4-year-old son of Arrogate has finished in the money in all 10 career starts. Game Warden chased Lambeth home in the Temperence Hill, finishing second. The Tapit gelding has finished in the money in 5 of 8 turf routes dating to May 2024.

William Walker, Churchill Downs, 5 1/2 furlongs, turf, 3-year-olds

Governor Sam brings a record of four wins from six turf starts into this sprint. The Improbable colt captured both the Rosies Beach and Indian Summer in the fall before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Out On Bail enters having hit the board in four straight turf attempts, including a victory in the Skidmore at Saratoga. The 3-year-old colt finished behind Governor Sam in the Rosies Beach and Indian Summer. 

Thursday

St. Matthews, Churchill Downs, 6 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up

Speed Boat Beach returns from a 16-month layoff following a victory in the Malibu (G1) in December 2023. The 5-year-old, bought for $200,000 at the OBS March sale in 2022, has shown early speed and has earned triple-digit Beyers in his previous three starts. His pre-layoff form included a runner-up in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) and a fourth-place finish in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Miles Ahead, an 8-year-old veteran with more than $1 million in earnings, comes off a disappointing sixth in the Whitmore (G3). The Competitive Edge gelding from the Paul McGee barn last found the winner’s circle in the 2024 Thanksgiving Classic at Fair Grounds.

Kentucky Juvenile, Churchill Downs, 5 furlongs, 2-year-olds

Double Talker demolished his competition in his debut, drawing away to win a muddy, 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland by three lengths after stalking in third. The January foal carries the top weight of 120 pounds. His stablemate Pinky Finger was equally impressive in her debut, cruising to a seven-length victory in a 4 1/2-furlong race at Keeneland. The Wesley Ward trainee controlled the pace throughout under Joel Rosario at even money, defeating Happyhappyboy and Barstool, both of whom return as rivals in this spot.

Opening Verse, Churchill Downs, 1 mile, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Brilliant Berti brings a 5-for-8 career record, including a 3-for-3 mark at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old Noble Mission colt captured the Bryan Station (G3) at Keeneland and the $250,000 American Derby over this course last year. Major Dude comes in after finishing fourth in the Appleton at Gulfstream. The 5-year-old Bolt d’Oro horse, bought at the Fasig-Tipton August sale in 2021 for $550,000, boasts more than $1.1 million in earnings with victories in the 2023 Penn Mile (G2) and the 2024 Fort Lauderdale (G2).

Friday

Modesty (G3), Churchill Downs, 1 1/8 miles, turf, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Storming home by six lengths in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) before winning the American Oaks (G1), She Feels Pretty has established herself as a major turf contender for Cherie DeVaux. The 4-year-old filly by Karakontie has hit the board in all seven of her stakes races. Segesta finished second in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) in her latest effort for Chad Brown. The Ghostzapper filly broke her maiden at Keeneland last April and finished no worse than second in her two career stakes starts.

Unbridled Sidney (G3), Churchill Downs, 5 1/2 furlongs, turf, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds

Ag Bullet has delivered consistent stakes performances, finishing third in both the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and earning more than $1.3 million with six wins in 12 career starts. The Richard Baltas trainee captured the Ladies Turf Sprint (G2) at Kentucky Downs in August. Awesome Treat, trained by Justin Wojczynski, scored a two-length victory in the Holiday Inaugural at Turfway Park in December. The 7-year-old mare also captured the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint at Ellis Park in August by a neck. She most recently finished seventh in the Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland.

Edgewood (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 miles, turf, fillies, 3-year-olds 

Nitrogen enters off a win in the Appalachian (G2), rallying to defeat her rivals by two lengths. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro captured the Florida Oaks (G3) in March and placed third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November. Vixen comes in after finishing second in the Appalachian (G2), ending her streak of back-to-back stakes victories at Gulfstream Park, where she took the Herecomethebride (G3) and the Sweet Chant. The Vekoma filly also finished second in the Natalma (G1) last September.

Eight Belles (G2), Churchill Downs, 7 furlongs, fillies, 3-year-olds 

After dominating the Beaumont (G2) at Keeneland, Verity brings a 3-for-3 2025 record into the Eight Belles. The Nyquist filly never has finished worse than second in four career starts. Éclatant has been equally impressive, capturing the Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream Park in February. Before that the 3-year-old Into Mischief filly finished third in the Golden Rod (G2) and had two victories in allowance and maiden special-weight company. 

Alysheba (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Coming off a second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, Fierceness stands as one of racing’s top classic-division contenders. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he has more than $3.8 million in earnings with victories in the Travers (G1), Jim Dandy (G2), 2024 Florida Derby (G1) and 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Locked brings his own firepower with an eight-length victory in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and runner-up finish in the Pegasus World Cup (G1). The 4-year-old colt has hit the board in all eight career starts.

La Troienne (G1), Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Thorpedo Anna dominated her competition again in the Azeri (G2), winning by three lengths for trainer Kenny McPeek. The 4-year-old filly capped her stellar 2024 campaign with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff over Raging Sea. She also captured the Cotillion (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Acorn (G1), and she romped in the 2024 Kentucky Oaks. Raging Sea enters off a second to Thorpedo Anna in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Before that she won the Beldame (G2) by a head for Brown. The 5-year-old mare by Curlin claimed the Personal Ensign (G1) by a head three starts back.

Saturday

Knicks Go Overnight, Churchill Downs, 1 mile, 4-year-olds and up

Liberal Arts comes off a fourth-place finish in the American Pharoah at Oaklawn on March 29, when he closed late to get in the money. Trained by Brad Cox, this colt hit the board in three of his last four starts. Best Actor looks to rebound after a disappointing ninth in the Commonwealth (G3) at Keeneland. Trained by Ed Moger Jr., the 5-year-old hasn’t hit the board since finishing second in the Mineshaft (G3) at Fair Grounds in February 2024.  

Turf Sprint (G2), Churchill Downs, 5 1/2 furlongs, turf, 3-year-olds and up

Nobals returns after a runner-up effort in the Big Daddy at Turfway, where he dueled throughout before yielding to Arrest Me Red in the final strides. The 6-year-old by Noble Mission is 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs and will look to keep that streak going. Arrest Me Red continues to impress, capturing the Big Daddy under Ward’s guidance. The 7-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile has hit the board in four straight starts since a disappointing 13th place-finish in this race last year. 

American Turf (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 miles, turf, 3-year-olds

Iron Man Cal has shown promise on turf, finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 1. The 3-year-old colt broke his maiden with a 1 1/4-length victory at Del Mar in September. Zulu Kingdom has established himself as a formidable turf specialist, recently capturing the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs by a neck. Before that the Ireland-bred colt took the Pilgrim (G2) at Belmont and the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga. 

Pat Day Mile (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 mile, 3-year-olds

Built, trained by Wayne Catalano, finished fifth in the Louisiana Derby (G2) after trailing in fourth for the majority of the race. The Hard Spun colt hit the board in his three prior starts at the Fair Grounds. They included a victory in the Gun Runner, a second in the Lecomte (G3), and a third in the Risen Star (G2). Madaket Road, trained by Bob Baffert, finished fourth in the Florida Derby (G1) last out at Gulfstream Park after running second in the Rebel (G2) at Fair Grounds and third in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita. 

Distaff Turf Mile (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 mile, turf, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Sacred Wish comes in off a fourth-place finish in the Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland this month. The 5-year-old mare trained by George Weaver hit the board in 6 of 7 career starts going one mile. Venencia most recently finished third in the Hillsborough (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs, rallying from seventh. The Brown trainee took the Forever Together at Aqueduct three starts back when she overcame a slow start to surge late to win by a neck.

Churchill Downs (G1), Churchill Downs, 7 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up

Mindframe heads into this one having won the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) last out by 1 1/4 lengths, hitting the board in all five career starts including runner-up finishes in both the Haskell (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1). Mullikin enters off a second-place finish in the Cigar Mile (G2), where he led from the five path in the stretch before settling for second. This 5-year-old by Violence closed from off the pace to finish third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and has hit the board in all six of his previous starts.

Derby City Distaff (G1), Churchill Downs, 7 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Vahva looks to rebound after finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and third in the Ballerina (G1) before that. Trained by DeVaux, the 5-year-old has won all four career starts at Churchill Downs including the 2024 edition of the Derby City Distaff. Ways and Means comes in after a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in which she didn’t have the cleanest of trips. Brown’s filly captured three straight races before that, including the Gallant Bloom (G2) at Aqueduct and the Test (G1)  at Saratoga. 

Turf Classic (G1), Churchill Downs, 1 1/8 miles, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Integration brings a strong form into this one, posting runner-up finishes in both his 2025 starts after capturing the Red Smith (G2) in December. The 5-year-old son of Quality Road fell just short in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and again in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) last month. Gold Phoenix makes his second start of 2025 after a third in the San Luis Rey (G3). The 7-year-old veteran captured both the Charles Whittingham (G2) and Del Mar Handicap (G2) last year before finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.