JOINT EFFORT (Runaway Groom), winner of the Dogwood Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) and
La Troienne S. (G3) at Churchill Downs last spring, highlights a field of 12
entered to Thursday’s $150,000 Chilukki S. (G2). The sophomore filly has been
installed as a slight 4-1 favorite in the one-mile event for distaffers, but
trainer Dale Romans is considering scratching her in favor of the six-furlong
Very Subtle S. on Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup undercard.
“It’ll be one of those two races, but she is doing good and we look forward
to running her back at Churchill,” Romans said. “I know she likes it here, and
I’ve been waiting to run her on her track.”
Churchill has definitely been Joint Effort’s favorite so far. Following
back-to-back scores in the La Troienne and Dogwood, the chestnut lass finished
seventh in the Mother Goose S. (G1) and 10th in the Test S. (G1). She’s been
freshened nearly three months since the Test, and Mark Guidry has the mount in
the Chilukki.
Grade 3 winner PROSPECTIVE SAINT (Saint Ballado), the 5-1 second choice on
the morning line, is a top contender, and Grade 1 queen WILD FIT (Wild Wonder)
is a threat to keep showing more. Runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Fillies (G1), Wild Fit exits a fourth in the Indiana Breeders’ Cup Oaks
(G2) for conditioner Patrick Biancone. SANGRITA (Mr. Greeley) has shipped into
Churchill off a sharp allowance win at Delaware Park, and VAGUE (Elusive
Quality) will be cutting back in ground and switching surfaces following a
seventh in Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1). Now trained by
Doug O’Neill, Vague captured the UAE One Thousand Guineas on the dirt earlier
this year.
The complete field, from the rail with jockeys and morning line odds, is Wild
Fit, Julien Leparaoux, 12-1; HUMOROUS GAL (Distorted Humor), Calvin Borel, 12-1;
Vague, Garrett Gomez, 8-1; GOLDEN LOCKET (Storm Creek), Shaun Bridgmohan, 20-1;
INDIAN FLARE (Cherokee Run), Rafael Bejarano, 6-1; MARY DELANEY (Hennessy),
Corey Lanerie, 30-1; Joint Effort; LADY PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus), Javier
Castellano, 12-1; Prospective Saint, Eddie Castro; CARMANDIA (Wild Rush), John
Velazquez, 8-1; Sangrita, Edgar Prado, 6-1; and TRIPPI STREET (Trippi), Robby
Albarado, 6-1.
The Chilukki serves as a good afternoon prelude to the highly anticipated
meeting between unbeaten college football powers West Virginia and Louisville,
who will meet next door to Churchill Downs at Papa John’s Stadium on Thursday
evening.