by Godolphin First mission got hit in the nose Brand In Churchill Downs in last fall’s Clark Stakes (G2), is favored to avenge that defeat under Twin Spiers when he again faces Trademark and eight others in the $750,000 Alysheba Stakes (G2) on the day May 3.
Dual Graded Stakes winner, won the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland last year at 3 and the March 23 Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park in his most recent start this year, was an 8-5 a.m. option. Only once in seven starts has a child of yours Street feel finished worse than second place when he was ninth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) this winter at Gulfstream Park.
According to trainer Brad Cox, First Mission doesn’t care about the racing surface at Gulfstream.
“He’s training well,” Cox added. He likes the conditions here at Churchill.” “He just ran once at Clark last year. I thought it was a very good race, putting all the effort on the inside, and I think the only time he wasn’t leading was right on the line.”
The first assignment is 3-on-3 at 1/16-mile distance of Alysheba on dirt. Florent Geroux riding a horse.
FIRST MISSION ($4.20) was hugely impressive in winning the $600,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at @OaklawnRacing. The colt by @DarleyUSAStreet Sense’s is trained by @bradcoxracing with @flothejock in the iron!
Final lucky bet: https://t.co/GefXVvzQkm pic.twitter.com/BgD2OeT2Rs
— FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) March 23, 2024
Returning to action for the first time this year is the 4-year-old filly of Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable Tapit Trice winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Downs Bay in 2023. The grey-haired/long-skinned son is trained by Todd Pletcher of faucet hasn’t started since finishing third in last summer’s Travers Stakes (G1) at the Saratoga Race Course.
He joined Alysheba after a steady series of workouts at Palm Beach Downs in South Florida. Irad Ortiz Jr. First time riding Tapit Trice.
TO Saint Denis a Longshot of Japan
The only participant is TO Saint Denis a shipper from Japan with the same relationship as the Kentucky Derby (G1) rival TO password . Daisuke Takayanagi trains both for boss Tomoya Ozasa.
TO Saint Denis was overtaken by TO Pass in a light breeze on April 30 at Churchill Downs.
Ryusei Sakai—who will pilot another Japanese horse in the Derby, Youth forever —went to Saint Denis.
Sakai, who was in Kentucky to introduce Forever Young last week, noted that TO Saint Denis has only two wins in Japan. The 5-year-old horse has made 22 starts.
“In terms of classification, it can be a bit difficult. But he has good speed and good distance,” he said in comments translated by Churchill Downs Asia representative Kate Hunter.
He added: “This is a great opportunity to be able to ride on the water before the Kentucky Derby; It’s a unique opportunity.” “However, I will ride to win.”
Item: Alysheba S. presented by TwinSpires (G2)
Churchill DownsFriday, May 3, 2024, Stage 7
- class II
- 1 1/16m
- Dust
- 750,000 USD
- 4 years old and up
- 2:09 pm (local)
