Sparkling Keeneland winner Two Sharp steps up in Chilukki

Highly regarded 3-year-old filly Two Sharp, a dominant allowance winner in October at Keeneland, leads a competitive field of eight fillies and mares entered in next Saturday’s 39th running of the Grade 3, $300,000 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The one-mile Chilukki is one of two featured events on an 11-race program that also includes the $300,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3). First post is 1 p.m. EST with the Chilukki slated as race 8 at 4:25 p.m. EST.

Trained by Phil Bauer for Rigney Racing, Two Sharp has been heavily favored in each of her four career starts, including a dazzling 11 1/4-length maiden special weight victory at Saratoga at odds of 1-2 and a 6 1/4-length romp against allowance company at Keeneland at odds of 1-5. The daughter of Twirling Candy will break from post 4 under jockey Junior Alvarado.

Among Two Sharp’s challengers is Claiborne Farm’s Pigalle, the Groupie Doll Stakes winner who most recently finished fourth behind Musical Mischief in the Locust Grove Stakes (G2). Trained by Tommy Drury Jr., Pigalle will cut back to one turn for the Chilukki and will be ridden by Luan Machado from post 2.

Another key contender is Fancy, owned by Heider Family Stables and trained by Brendan Walsh. The 4-year-old daughter of Justify was narrowly defeated by Pigalle in the Groupie Doll Stakes before rebounding with a commanding gate-to-wire allowance win at Keeneland as the 3-5 favorite. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post 8.

The field also includes Positano Sunset, owned and bred by Six Column Stables, Randy Bloch, John Seiler and David Hall. A winner of last year’s Audubon Oaks, the Ian Wilkes-trained filly has earned $429,325 in her career, highlighted by runner-up finishes in the Chicago Stakes (G3) and Open Mind at Churchill Downs. Julien Leparoux will ride from post 6.