Unbeaten Pneumatic takes 'logical next step' in Matt Winn

Pneumatic will pursue a 3-for-3 start to his career while stepping up in class for Churchill Downs' Grade 3, $150,000 Matt Winn Stakes set for Saturday.

David Fiske, racing manager for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds, said the 1 1/16-mile race is “kind of a logical next step” for the undefeated homebred, who broke his maiden going six furlongs first time out in February and scored at a mile in an April allowance race at Oaklawn Park.

“We’ll stretch him out a little bit, see what happens,” Fiske said. “Give him a little test, see if he has all the right answers.”

The son of Uncle Mo, trained by Steven Asmussen, likely will face another undefeated colt, the Breeders' Futurity (G1) hero Maxfield, in a race offering qualifying points (50-20-10-5) to the 2020 Kentucky Derby.

Pneumatic's debut victory came by a neck over Skol Factor, who went on to romp next out to break his own maiden. Then Pneumatic came from off the pace for a 2 1/2-length win once stretched out in distance.

Sunday morning, Pneumatic breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Churchill Downs in his final tuneup for the Matt Winn.

Others expected through the entry box are Withers Stakes (G3) winner Max Player, who could make his first start since February, and Mr. Big News, who more recently won the Oaklawn Stakes.

Entries will be taken Wednesday for the Matt Winn and four other Saturday stakes at Churchill Downs: the $100,000 Blame (4-year-olds and up at one-mile); $100,000 War Chant (3-year-olds at one-mile on turf); $100,000 Tepin (3-year-old fillies at one-mile on turf); and $100,000 Shawnee (fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles).