Warrior Johnny fights Saint Tapit on Bourbon Trail

Rigney Racing’s Warrior Johnny an eye-catching 1/8th length allowance winner a month ago at Racecourse Saratogawill test the holding company for the first time in the $275,000 Bourbon Trail Stakes chain on September 24 at Churchill Downs.

Warrior Johnny destroyed a field of seven in level one allowance at Saratoga. Son trained by Phil Bauer of Prince Cairo broke her maidenhood by 12 3/4 the length of June 18 at Churchill Downs.

Two weeks later, Warrior Johnny was back in the first-level allowance below the Twin Spiers and finished from 13 races above his original pace to finish just two races behind rival Bourbon Trail. Age of wealth .

“You have to give it to Phil. He’s done a great job — from us winning 6-13 at Saratoga and the title of owner at Churchill Downs — our team has been amazing,” said owner Richard Rigney. .

Hall of Fame Coach Todd Pletcher Joined Saint Tapit in Bourbon Trail to try two turns for the first time. Owned and bred by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Ranch, Saint Tapit came out of Horse of the Year 2011 Havre de Grace .

The regal bred son of Tapit started his career on June 26 at Belmont Park with a convincing four-length victory in a special weight competition for girls. Six weeks later, Saint Tapit scored a 1/2 win for the first level at Saratoga.

Tyler Gaffalione rides.

Completing this field is Maximum impact , Brewers , War Campaign , The path of purity , Creative Minister and Blue big line .

Get an early evening pass at Churchill Downs, Winchell Thoroughbreds tier 1 winning sprinter Gunite will meet Patricia’s Hope and Mark Farrar’s speed Conagher third time as a lead in the second run of the $275,000 Harrods Creek Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Coached by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Gunite was beaten 1/4 length by one of the nation’s best 3-year-olds, Jack Christopher , in $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stock (G1). Before that begins, the son of Gunman narrowly defeated Exactly in $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) and My joke in $160,000 Overnight Shares in Maxfield.

Conagher faced Gunite for the last time in Jerkens, where he took a two-way lead from the track but faded to fourth in the deep. Son trained by Mike Tomlinson’s Jimmy Creed beat Gunite four starts first at Churchill Downs when he burned seven trousers in 1:20.62.

Tomlinson tested Conagher in two turns after his aforementioned win over Gunite but he tired late to finish second in the $300,000 Iowa Derby. After the Iowa Derby, Conagher went back to sprinting and found the winner’s circle in the $101,000 Housebuster Overnight Handicap at Colony Downs.

Jockey Joe Rocco Jr was a regular pilot for Conagher in 8 of his 10 starts and got the call.

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This press release has been edited for content and style by the BloodHorse Staff.