Bell's the One, Sconsin Top Competitive Chicago Stakes

Lothenbach Stables' grade 1 winner Bell's the One  and Lloyd Madison Farm's multiple graded stakes winner Sconsin , two of the top filly and mare sprinters in the country, clash June 25 in a competitive renewal of the $200,000 Chicago Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Bell's the One and Sconsin were entered against seven rivals in the seven-furlong Chicago. 

The leading duo have faced one another in several starts. Most recently, Sconsin got the better of Bell's the One by a half-length in the Open Mind Stakes in September. Prior to that start, Bell's the One was victorious by three-quarters of a length over Sconsin in the 2021 Roxelana Overnight Stakes.  

Trained by Neil Pessin, Bell's the One has won four of her 11 starts at Churchill Downs. Her most notable win was in the 2020 Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1) where she defeated former Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress  by a scant nose. Jockey Corey Lanerie has ridden Bell's the One in 19 of 24 starts. He'll be aboard the 6-year-old Majesticperfection  mare from post 4.

Sconsin, trained by Greg Foley, returned four weeks ago from an eight-month layoff in the $200,000 Winning Colors Stakes (G3). In the Winning Colors, Sconsin defeated four rivals by three-quarters of a length. Mitchell Murrill will replace regular rider Tyler Gaffalione on the 5-year-old Include  mare due to Gaffalione riding Saturday at Thistledown.

Whitham Thoroughbreds multiple grade 3 winner Four Graces  will attempt to avenge her runner-up effort in last month's $750,000 Derby City Distaff. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Four Graces won the 2020 Dogwood Stakes (G3) and Beaumont Presented by Keeneland Select(G3) as a 3-year-old. In the Derby City Distaff, the now 5-year-old mare, battled hard against Obligatory  but fell three-quarters of a length short. Regular rider Julien Leparoux will be in the saddle from post 6. 

Belladonna Racing's 2022 Roxelana Stakes winner Bayerness  returns for the Chicago. Bayerness scored a 4 1/2-length win in the April 30 Roxelana, her first start in more than eight months for trainer Cherie DeVaux. Jockey Luis Saez will be in town to pilot the five-time winning daughter of Bayern  from the rail. 

Godolphin's Pennybaker  is another talented filly entered. The five-time winner, trained by Mike Stidham, arrived in his barn this spring from France and sports a stout 6 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Heavenly Cause Stakes at Laurel Park. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro   is on a five-race win streak that dates back to Aug. 19, 2021, at Deauville when she broke her maiden. Pennybaker will be ridden by James Graham out of post 2.

The Chicago field is rounded out by 2021 La Brea (G1) winner Kalypso  and grade 3 winner Lady Rocket .

This will be the second time the Chicago Stakes has been run at Churchill Downs after it was previously run at shuttered Arlington International Racecourse.

Entries: Chicago S. (G3)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, June 25, 2022, Race 9

• Grade III
• 7f
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:55 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Bayerness (KY)	Luis Saez	120	Cherie DeVaux	5/1
2	2Pennybaker (KY)	James Graham	120	Michael Stidham	8/1
3	3Lady Rocket (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	120	Brad H. Cox	5/2
4	4Bell's the One (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	120	Neil L. Pessin	7/2
5	5Kalypso (KY)	Gerardo Corrales	123	Steven M. Asmussen	15/1
6	6Four Graces (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	118	Ian R. Wilkes	8/1
7	7Sconsin (KY)	Mitchell Murrill	120	Gregory D. Foley	2/1