The $225,000 William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs will be a rematch for 3-year-olds Gaslight Dancer , Two of a Kind , and Private Creed , who meet May 13 for the 5 1/2-furlong turf event after running first, second, and fifth, respectively, in Keeneland's Palisades Stakes April 16.
Mike Maker trainee Gaslight Dancer is in top shape having been successful by 1 1/2 lengths in the Palisades for owners Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Skychai Racing, and Angelo Carlesimo. The son of City of Light has been lightly raced up to his sophomore year with a record of 2-1-0 from five starts, including a runner-up finish in the 2022 Futurity Stakes (G3T) and an off-the-board run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) last fall.
K and R Racing Stable and Town Branch Racing's Two of a Kind became a stakes winner as a juvenile when taking the Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park, but has been unable to replicate that success since. The Overanalyze colt will look to put trainer Brian Lynch back in the winner's circle.
The Steve Asmussen-trained Private Creed was victorious twice in stakes company at Keeneland and Kentucky Downs last year before finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) but has not been able to break through with a win in three tries so far this year. The son of Jimmy Creed races for Mike McCarty.
Completing the field are No Nay Hudson , Crispy Cat , Chiringo , Ah Jeez , and Gilcrease .
Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 13, 2023, Race 10Entries: William Walker S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Gilcrease (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
118
Albert M. Stall, Jr.
15/1
2
2Gaslight Dancer (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
118
Michael J. Maker
2/1
3
3Two of a Kind (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
118
Brian A. Lynch
6/1
4
4Chiringo (KY)
Luis Saez
118
George Weaver
8/1
5
5No Nay Hudson (IRE)
James Graham
118
Wesley A. Ward
6/1
6
6Crispy Cat (GB)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
118
Jorge Delgado
5/1
7
7Private Creed (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
120
Steven M. Asmussen
3/1
8
8Ah Jeez (KY)
Reylu Gutierrez
118
Doug F. O'Neill
15/1