Trinniberg Back in U.S. for Churchill Downs Stakes

Sherry Parbhoo’s Trinniberg, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) last fall at Santa Anita, tops a stellar field of nine sprinters for the 79th running of $400,000-added Churchill Downs (GII) at seven furlongs on the main track.

A winner of three graded stakes in addition to his Breeders’ Cup score, Trinniberg will be making his first start since finishing 11th in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) five weeks ago. Willie Martinez has the mount on Trinniberg, who will break from post position eight.

Chief among his rivals are Maggi Moss’ Delaunay and Stonestreet Stables’ Hierro.

Trained by Tom Amoss, Delaunay brings a five-race win streak into the Churchill Downs with those victories coming by a combined 18 ¾ lengths. Undefeated in three starts at Churchill Downs, Delaunay will break from post position nine and be ridden by Rosie Napravnik.

Hierro also is perfect at Churchill Downs in two starts, a maiden score in 2011 and a victory in last spring’s Derby Trial. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Hierro will exit post two and be ridden by John Velazquez.

The field for the Churchill Downs that will go as the ninth race with a 3:49 p.m. post time, from the rail out, is: Night Party (Shane Sellers, 118 pounds), Hierro (Velazquez, 118), Laurie’s Rocket (Victor Lebron, 118), Handsome Mike (Mario Gutierrez, 120), Unbridled’s Note (Corey Nakatani, 118), Pass the Dice (Julien Leparoux, 118), Politicallycorrect (Joel Rosario, 118), Trinniberg (Martinez, 123) and Delaunay (Napravnik, 118).