Howard has high hopes for Stonetacular
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Stoneway Farm’s Stonetacular seeks back-to-back victories in Sunday’s fourth race allowance feature at Churchill Downs for trainer Neil Howard.
Listed at 8-5 on Mike Battaglia’s morning line, Stonetacular was most recently a wire-to-wire winner in an allowance event on May 5 at Churchill Downs.
“She’s a very nice horse,” Howard said. “We were excited to get that win on Kentucky Oaks Day with her. We could’ve easily run her in stakes company in this start but I want to take my time with her. I want to get her past these conditions this afternoon and we’ll look at bigger races down the road. She’s really been training great and Brian (Hernandez Jr.) fits her well.”
Stonetacular, a 3-year-old filly by Speightstown, has never been worse than second in four career starts with $83,200 in earnings.
MILESTONE WATCH – Jockey Julien Leparoux is one win away from 800 career victories at Churchill Downs while trainer “Buff” Bradley is one win away from 100 career victories beneath the Twin Spires. Bradley has three scheduled runners in races six, nine and 10. Leparoux is riding at Belmont Park on Sunday but is named on four horses Thursday at Churchill Downs. … Trainer Dale Romans (688 victories) is 13 wins behind Churchill Downs’ all-time leading trainer Bill Mott (701).
DOWN THE STRETCH – There is a $62,761 carryover in the 20-cent Single-6 Jackpot Sunday on races 5-10 at Churchill Downs and a $6,694 carryover in the $1 Super Hi-5 in Race 10. … The “Who’s the Champ? Handicapping Contest” returns Sunday. Interested participants can enter for $35 ($30 for TSC Elite members) for a chance to win a $1,000 cash voucher first prize by placing mythical $2 win and place bets on Races 3-8. Second place receives a $500 voucher and third place is worth a $200 voucher. Registration takes place between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the top of the Gate 17 escalators. … Saturday’s “Downs After Dark” is the centerpiece of an action-packed, four-day, Thursday-Sunday racing week at Churchill Downs. Post times each day: Thursday (5 p.m.), Friday (12:45 p.m.), Saturday (6 p.m.) and Sunday (12:45 p.m.). … The Twilight Thursday abbreviated eight-race program starts at 5 p.m. and is highlighted by $1 beers, food trucks (Red Top Gourmet Hot Dogs, Pollo, 502 Café, Mark’s Feed Store and Zoom Zoom Yum), live music on the Plaza stage by Louisville’s Frederick the Younger and a Wagering 101 tent for betting advice. … Churchill Downs is offering a special $15 Father’s Day Combo for Sunday, which includes a reserved box seat, official program and a voucher for a domestic draft beer or souvenir soda and a hot dog. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets.
Source: Churchill Downs
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