Xigera on Target for Falls City at Churchill Downs

It has been a memorable 2023 for the team of Richard Rigney and Phil Bauer, and the duo aims to continue their success with their top 3-year-old filly Xigera , who is pointed to compete in the $400,000 Falls City Stakes (G3) on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, at Churchill Downs.

"Overall, it's been such a special year for Richard and our whole team," Bauer said. "We're hoping the back half of this year will springboard Xigera to an even better 4-year-old season."

Xigera began her 3-year-old campaign in June but boasts a solid record of four wins in five starts, most notably a 3 1/2-length victory in the Mother Goose Stakes (G2) three weeks ago during the Belmont at the Big A meet. That win followed a blowout score in the Seneca Overnight Stakes over the Churchill Downs main track.

Overall, Xigera has excelled on both dirt and turf. The daughter of Nyquist   is 5-1-1 in nine starts with earnings of $576,601. She was grade 1-placed as a juvenile in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

The 108th running of the 1 1/8-mile Falls City was won last year by Played Hard  for Rigney and Bauer. She went on to win the La Troienne Stakes (G1) this year on Kentucky Oaks Day.

A full list of nominations for the Falls City will be released by the racing office in the coming days.