Hidden Connection Looks to End Losing Skid in Chilukki

After chasing Breeders’ Cup competitors in three of her last four starts—specifically, Search Results , Society  and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Idiomatic —Hidden Connection  has an opportunity against easier foes in the $300,000 Chilukki Stakes (G3) Nov. 18 at Churchill Downs.

Winless in seven starts this year, Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds’ Hidden Connection enters the one-mile Chilukki after running second in her last two outings and four times in seven starts this year. She finished second in the one-mile Groupie Doll Stakes Aug. 13 at Ellis Park behind fellow Chilukki starter Falconet  before another runner-up finish, beaten 3 1/4 lengths, in the Sept. 16 Locust Grove Stakes (G3) behind Search Results.

#4 Search Results returns to the winner’s circle in the G3 Locust Grove S. at Churchill Downs under @Tyler_Gaff for trainer Chad Brown! 🔎💻

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/QvV4oPYlkz

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 16, 2023

Those races followed a pair of fifths at Churchill when well beaten by Idiomatic and Society in the June 3 Shawnee Stakes (G3) and June 24 Chicago Stakes (G3), respectively.

The Bret Calhoun-trained 4-year-old daughter of Connect   is 3-5-1 in 15 races, earning $702,295. She romped in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at Churchill in 2021. Leading jockey Tyler Gaffalione rides.

In addition to Falconet, who ran seventh in the Locust Grove, the field drew seven others, including:

• Godolphin’s graded winner and last-out Beldame Stakes (G2) show finisher Nostalgic .
• Richard Perkins’ Oeuvre , a winner of four straight and 13 of 16 in 2022-23.
• Lothenbach Stable’s She Can’t Sing , the 2022 Chilukki winner.
• JoAnn and Alex Lieblong’s stakes-winning and grade 1-placed comebacker Hot and Sultry .