Bulletin tops William Walker on Churchill Downs Spring meet opener

With his eyes on a potential run in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot in June, the undefeated speedball Bulletin will have his final tune-up Saturday night in the $125,000 William Walker, the five-furlong turf dash for three-year-olds that not only kicks off both the Churchill Downs 38-day spring meet but Kentucky Derby week as well.

Undefeated from three starts for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF Racing, Bulletin returns to the site of his Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last November, which followed a seven-length debut win at Gulfstream Park. The son of City Zip was no less impressive in his season debut earlier this month, leading gate-to-wire in the inaugural Palisades Turf Sprint at Keeneland.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Bulletin drew post 1 in the field of eight and will again be ridden by Javier Castellano.

His primary challenge figures to come from the Wesley Ward-trained Abyssinian, who crushed allowance foes at Gulfstream in February before tiring to third in the Palisades after chasing Bulletin early.

Legends of War makes his U.S. debut in the William Walker for new trainer Doug O'Neill. Though unplaced in four of his five group attempts last season in England, the Scat Daddy colt was only beaten a half-length in the prestigious Gimcrack (G2) at York last August.

The William Walker is the eighth race on a 10-race program that begins at 6 p.m. (EDT). Afternoon racing during Derby week returns Tuesday with daily cards through Derby Day next Saturday, May 4.