Center Aisle Headlines Churchill Downs Allowance Race

A full field of 12 sophomore fillies has lined up to contest an $81,000 allowance optional claiming race May 22 at Churchill Downs. 

Among the notable starters is a high-dollar filly who turned heads at the auction house, an effect her connections hope to recreate on the racetrack. 

From the barn of Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown is Center Aisle, a daughter of Into Mischief  bred in Kentucky by Breffini Farm. Out of the Empire Maker mare Specification, Center Aisle was purchased for $450,000 by Slugo/Playmaster Racing as a yearling from the consignment of Woods Edge Farm to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. A year later, the bay was pinhooked by Tom McCrocklin to The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select sale of 2-year-olds in training, where she was purchased for $1.5 million by OXO Equine. 

Center Aisle broke her maiden on debut going six furlongs March 29 at Gulfstream Park. She will break from post 5 in the seven-furlong allowance under Joel Rosario, who was aboard for her maiden win. 

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will send out Casual, a chestnut Curlin  filly bred and owned by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Stretch Run Ventures. Though Casual has never been through a sales ring, the sophomore comes with an impressive pedigree as the eighth foal out of the Mutakddim mare Lady Tak. 

A multiple grade 1 winner who earned over $1.6 million, Florida-bred Lady Tak was campaigned by Heiligbrodt Stable and Asmussen through 19 starts. The now 20-year-old mare scored at the highest level at 3 and 4, winning the Test Stakes (G1) and Ballerina Handicap (G1). Lady Tak has also produced stakes winners Melody Lady and A Shin Spartan. 

Casual broke her maiden on debut for Asmussen April 11 at Oaklawn Park. She will break from post 6 with Ricardo Santanta Jr. in the irons. 

Trainer Wesley Ward will send out Carpe Diem  filly Nayibeth for her third start. Owned by Merriebelle Stable and Ramon Tallaj, Nayibeth broke her maiden in 2019 on her first start at 2. She joined Ward's European string at Royal Ascot that same year and finished 13th in the Albany Stakes (G3). The filly made her first start this season at Turfway Park and finished second in a March 6 allowance optional claiming race on the all-weather track. 

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred holdings, Nayibeth is out of the Coronado's Quest mare Le Relais, who has also produced grade 2 winner Soldat and stakes-placed My Selection. She was purchased for $230,000 by Ben McElroy, agent, from the consignment of Denali Stud to The October Sale, Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky fall yearling sale. 

Nayibeth will break from post 7 under Gerardo Corrales.