Lady Tak Stakes Keeps Sconsin On Track for BC

Trainer Greg Foley was excited to see Arlington Million Day come to Churchill Downs because the inaugural running of the $200,000 Lady Tak Stakes on the undercard meant he could keep his prized mare Sconsin  in Kentucky and on track toward the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland.

"Our home is at Churchill Downs, and we ended up having to ship (Sconsin) to Saratoga last summer," Foley said. "Things didn't work out that day but I'm sure excited this year she can run out of her own stall at Churchill."

Foley began plotting a course over the winter for the Lloyd Madison Farms IV homebred to get to the Breeders' Cup World Championships being run Nov. 4-5. When the Breeders' Cup was last at Keeneland in 2020, Sconsin finished fourth behind eventual Eclipse champion female sprinter Gamine , former Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Serengeti Empress , and fellow Lady Tak rival Bell's the One . 

"The Lady Tak is still a tough race," Foley said. "Bell's the One is a very talented filly and on paper it looks like there is some speed that will be in front of us early. Last time out in the Chicago (Stakes), I thought Mitchell (Murrill) gave her a great trip but we ended up being second best that day to Lady Rocket ."

Churchill Downs leading rider Tyler Gaffalione, who was unable to ride Sconsin in the Chicago Stakes (G3) due to a commitment on White Abarrio  in the Ohio Derby (G3), will be in town from Saratoga to pilot the 5-year-old Include  mare from post 2. 

"We're taking things one race at a time but we're coming into Saturday's race doing great and looking forward to the next three months until the Breeders' Cup," Foley said.

Mr. Wireless Set for Fort Larned Stakes

Jon Lapczenski and JIL Stable's Mr. Wireless  had a solid 3-year-old campaign with multiple grade 3 victories to his résumé. Now at 4, trainer Bret Calhoun hopes the son of Dialed In   can continue his winning ways in the $200,000 Fort Larned Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Mr. Wireless went to the sidelines last September following a fifth-place finish in the Oklahoma Derby (G3). Previously, the gelding scored back-to-back victories in the Indiana Derby (G3) and West Virginia Derby (G3). The Fort Larned will only be Mr. Wireless' third start of the year, which have included a June 5 one-mile allowance optional claiming race at Churchill where he finished sixth and a two-length victory in the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

"He's been doing very, very well at Churchill and we're excited he gets to run this time out of his own stall," Calhoun said. "He ran great last time in the Schaefer. There doesn't appear to be a lot of speed in Saturday's race so I'd picture him being closer to the pace. He's sort of a grinding-type of horse but he also has decent speed."

One of the horses that could show speed is trained by Calhoun's stepson Joe Sharp. Twilight Blue , owned by Carl R. Moore Management, finished second by a scant nose to grade 3 winner Fulsome  in his last start at Churchill, where he pressed the early pace but just missed. Two starts ago, the 4-year-old son of Air Force Blue  also showed speed when he won an allowance optional claiming race.