Factor This Looks to Continue Streak in Wise Dan Stakes

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Factor This Looks to Continue Streak in Wise Dan Stakes
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
Factor This wins the Muniz Memorial Classic at Fair Grounds Race Course

Gaining Ground Racing's three-time stakes winner Factor This leads a field of 11 older horses on the grass in the $200,000 Wise Dan Stakes Presented by Ford (G2T) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/8-mile Wise Dan shares the spotlight Saturday with the $100,000 Audubon Stakes Presented by TwinSpires.com, a 1 1/8-mile turf test for 3-year-olds.

Factor This, a $62,500 claim in 2018, has won five races with trainer Brad Cox, including back-to-back victories in the $150,000 Fair Grounds Stakes (G3T) and $300,000 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The 5-year-old son of The Factor  has been working consistently over the turf course at Churchill with pilot Shaun Bridgmohan aboard for his first race since March.

"He just looks like a more mature horse this year," said Bridgmohan, following a half-mile move in :47 3/5 by Factor This June 7. "He's filled out and really gained a lot of size. Even from the Fair Grounds this winter he looks bigger here at Churchill."

Factor This will try for his 10th win from post 3.

Video: Muniz Memorial Classic S. (G2T)



Live Oak Plantation's 2019 Wise Dan winner March to the Arch is back to defend his title. The Mark Casse trainee began his 2020 campaign with a victory in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park and turned in thirds in the $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs and $100,000 Appleton Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream. March to the Arch then traveled to California for his last start in the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T) but finished a disappointing 10th.

Florent Geroux will be in the irons from post 7. 

Also worthy of attention is stakes-winning Parlor, a wide second behind graded stakes winner Spooky Channel in a Churchill allowance May 23.

Field Pass Stretches Out in Audubon

Three Diamonds Farm's Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Field Pass leads a field of eight 3-year-olds in Saturday's inaugural running of the $100,000 Audubon Presented by TwinSpires.com.

The 1 1/8-mile distance of the Audubon should be more to the Lemon Drop Kid  colt's liking. Trained by Mike Maker, he finished third as the beaten favorite in last month's $100,000 War Chant Stakes going a mile. The Maryland-bred was10 lengths off the early pace in the one-mile War Chant and rallied belatedly to finish 2 1/4 lengths behind eventual winner Smooth Like Strait. who does not race Saturday, though runner-up Pixelate is in Saturday's field

"He didn't get away the best in the War Chant," Maker said. "I think the extra distance and a cleaner trip will help his chances in the Audubon."

Leading rider Tyler Gaffalione has the call from post position No. 6.

Video: War Chant S. (BT)



Besides Godolphin's Pixelate, other contenders include Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch's recent Churchill allowance winner Spanish Kingdom, and Waterford Stable's multiple stakes-placed Summer to Remember.


Entries: Wise Dan S. (G2T)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, June 20, 2020, Race 9

  • Grade IIT
  • 1 1/16m
  • Turf
  • $200,000
  • 4 yo's & up
  • 5:01 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Just Howard (MD)Keeneland Sales Graduate Rafael Bejarano 120 H. Graham Motion 10/1
2 2English Bee (KY) James Graham 120 H. Graham Motion 10/1
3 3Factor This (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Shaun Bridgmohan 122 Brad H. Cox 8/5
4 4Eons (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Adam Beschizza 120 Arnaud Delacour 50/1
5 5Aquaphobia (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 120 Michael J. Maker 6/1
6 6Ritzy A. P. (KY) Declan Cannon 120 Jack Sisterson 20/1
7 7March to the Arch (FL) Florent Geroux 120 Mark E. Casse 5/1
8 8Emmaus (IRE) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 120 Conor Murphy 15/1
9 9Casa Creed (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Martin Garcia 120 William I. Mott 15/1
10 10Hembree (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Gerardo Corrales 120 Michael J. Maker 12/1
11 11Parlor (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tyler Gaffalione 120 Michael J. Maker 9/2


Entries: Audubon S.

Churchill Downs, Saturday, June 20, 2020, Race 6

  • STK
  • 1 1/8m
  • Turf
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo
  • 3:25 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Bama Breeze (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Corey J. Lanerie 118 George R. Arnold, II 8/1
2 2Spanish Kingdom (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 118 Joe Sharp 10/1
3 3Natural Power (IRE) Adam Beschizza 118 Mark E. Casse 8/1
4 4Pixelate (KY) Mitchell Murrill 118 Michael Stidham 7/2
5 5Fenwick Station (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Declan Cannon 118 Eddie Kenneally 15/1
6 6Field Pass (MD) Tyler Gaffalione 118 Michael J. Maker 2/1
7 7Kinenos (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Shaun Bridgmohan 118 Brad H. Cox 8/1
8 8Summer to Remember (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Florent Geroux 118 Todd A. Pletcher 7/2