Chimney Rock Digs In for Churchill Allowance Score
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Photo: Coady Photography
Chimney Rock edges Jack and Noah to win an allowance at Churchill Downs
Three Diamonds Farm's Chimney Rock, fourth in his season debut, rebounded with a fighting effort to eke out a narrow win May 17 in a turf sprint allowance for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs.
The 5 1/2-furlong dash was Chimney Rock's first race back against Four Wheel Drive, who went 3-for-3 as a juvenile and defeated Chimney Rock by three-quarters of a length in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T). While Four Wheel Drive was away slow from the rail as the 3-5 favorite, Chimney Rock stalked the pacesetter and fought for a head victory. Four Wheel Drive finished seventh.
Jack and Noah, who showed the way through fractions of :22.85 and :46.20, proved to be a challenger to Chimney Rock but had to settle for second. Guildsman rallied from 10th to finish third, 3 1/4 lengths behind Jack and Noah.
Chimney Rock completed the distance in 1:04.27 on a firm course. He paid $13.80.
"Today's race definitely suited him better, and he ran as he did when he was a 2-year-old," winning trainer Mike Maker said. "I think this is the start of bigger things down the road for him, but we know what he likes to do."
After placing second in the Breeders' Cup, Chimney Rock closed the year with a 6 1/2-length victory in the Dec. 14 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes on dirt. He made his sophomore debut Jan. 26 and was fourth in the Texas Turf Mile Stakes on a good turf course. The Artie Schiller colt has earned $410,105 from a 3-3-1 record in nine starts. He was named the 2019 Louisiana Horse of the Year.
Bred in Louisiana by Stargazers and Clear Creek Stud, Chimney Rock is out of the stakes-placed Wheaton mare What's Your Point. Grassroots Training & Sales purchased him for $18,000 from Clear Creek Stud's consignment to the 2018 Equine Sales of Louisiana Yearling Sale.
Betting at Churchill Downs on Sunday totaled $12,326,917, which brought the two-day spring meet total to $26,605,643—a 185% increase from last year. The wagering on Saturday's opener was $14,278,726. The comparative Saturday and Sunday one year ago totaled $9,328,397.