Obligatory leads field of 8 fillies and mares for Chilukki

Juddmonte’s homebred Obligatory, the one-length winner of the $300,000 Eight Belles (G2) on Kentucky Oaks day, tops eight fillies and mares that were entered in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Chilukki at Churchill Downs.

The one-mile race will go as race 10 of 11 with a post time of 5:36 p.m. EST.

Obligatory was the 16-1 upset winner of the seven-furlong Eight Belles for 3-year-old fillies on April 30. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Obligatory finished second in the Acorn (G1) and Cotillion (G1). In her last start, Obligatory finished an enigmatic sixth in the $250,000 Raven Run (G2). Jockey Joel Rosario has the call for the Chilukki and drew post No. 7.

Also entered in Saturday’s 36th running of the Chilukki is CJ Thoroughbreds, Left Turn Racing and Casner Racing’s accomplished 5-year-old mare Sally’s Curlin. Trained by Dale Romans, Sally’s Curlin will attempt to become the first horse to win multiple editions of the Chilukki. She won the race in 2019 by three-quarters of a length. Sally’s Curlin will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. from post 2.

Another top contender in the Chilukki field is multiple stakes winner Matera. Owned by Don Alberto Stable and trained by Brad Cox, Matera won the $125,000 Groupie Doll at Ellis Park and the $85,000 Mari Hulman George Memorial at Indiana Grand. The gray 4-year-old filly will be reunited with jockey Florent Geroux from post 3.

The complete field for the Chilukki from the rail out (with jockeys and trainers): She Can’t Sing (Tyler Gaffalione, Chris Block); Sally’s Curlin (Hernandez, Romans); Matera (Geroux, Cox); Miss Bigly (Martin Garcia, Phil D’Amato); Pass the Plate (Joe Talamo, Paul McGee); Its Cold in Dehere (Ricardo Santana Jr. Norm Casse); Obligatory (Rosario, Mott); and Princess Causeway (Chris Landeros, Ian Wilkes).