Cash Equity May Generate Returns in River City Stakes

Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Coady Media/Christine Hayden
Cash Equity (left) rallies for second behind Goliad in the Millions Stakes at Kentucky Downs

Cash Equity , Reckoning Force , and Emmanuel —separated by 1 1/4 lengths when respectively second, fourth, and fifth, in the one-mile Millions Stakes (G3T) Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs—battle over a longer trip and at different Kentucky turf course Nov. 9 in the $300,000 River City Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs.

The three competitors, part of a closely-matched 10-horse field, compete over 1 1/8 miles, additional ground over which the trio have all been previously successful.

Not one of the 10 entrants has a prior win over the Churchill turf course, the use of which has been scaled back at times due to underperformance.

Ken Ramsey's Cash Equity, twice second over the course in as many attempts in the spring, leads the field with 2024 earnings of $335,815 despite not having won in eight starts. A race after the Millions at Kentucky Downs, the 6-year-old gelded son of Toronado  was seventh in the Oct. 5 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland.  

Reflective of that race's high quality, More Than Looks , the runner-up, returned to win the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar.

Sign up for

California-based Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, aboard Cash Equity last out, travels to Kentucky to ride Cash Equity, a gray and/or roan, for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who also runs the Jaime Torres-ridden Public Sector  in the River City.

This past Saturday, Joseph won his first Breeder's Cup race when Soul of an Angel  took the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) for the trainer.

The Mike Maker-trained Emmanuel, a 5-year-old son of More Than Ready , also exits grade 1 company, having been a well-beaten fourth in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Reckoning Force, conditioned by Brendan Walsh, stayed at the grade 3 class level after the Millions, finishing third, beaten a neck, in the Oct. 13 Knickerbocker Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct.

Other contenders in the River City include Masteroffoxhounds , the streaking Battle of Normandy , and millionaire Gigante .


Entries: River City S. (G3T)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, November 09, 2024, Race 10

  • Grade IIIT
  • 1 1/8m
  • Turf
  • $300,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 5:25 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Emmanuel (KY) Luis Saez 123 Michael J. Maker 7/2
2 2Hades (FL) Paco Lopez 118 Joseph F. Orseno 15/1
3 3Harlan Estate (ON) Declan Cannon 121 D. Whitworth Beckman 15/1
4 4Reckoning Force (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 121 Brendan P. Walsh 3/1
5 5Masteroffoxhounds (KY) Florent Geroux 121 Philip D'Amato 12/1
6 6Public Sector (GB) Jaime A. Torres 121 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 15/1
7 7Wonderful Justice (GB) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 121 Joe Sharp 12/1
8 8Battle of Normandy (KY) Luan Machado 121 Claude R. McGaughey III 6/1
9 9Gigante (VA) Edgar Morales 121 Steven M. Asmussen 12/1
10 10Cash Equity (FR) Mike E. Smith 121 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 5/2

Smith Also on Spirit Wind for Joseph in Dream Supreme

The River City is the 10th race at Churchill Saturday, two races after the $300,000 Dream Supreme for female sprinters at six furlongs on the main track.

Miller Racing's Spirit Wind , a front-running winner of the Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) this summer at Saratoga Race Course and recently second in the Oct. 5 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) at Keeneland for Joseph, is the Dream Supreme headliner under Smith.

Spirit Wind wins the 2024 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga Race Course
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Spirit Wind wins the Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga Race Course

Her principal foe is the up-and-coming Mystic Pleasure , a fast allowance optional claiming winner at Keeneland Oct. 13.

The Dream Supreme lineup also includes Upper Case , twice a runner-up to Mystic Pleasure in as many matchups since the summer.


Entries: Dream Supreme S.

Churchill Downs, Saturday, November 09, 2024, Race 8

  • STK
  • 6f
  • Dirt
  • $300,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 4:25 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Girls Weekend (KY) Luis Saez 118 D. Whitworth Beckman 20/1
2 2Upper Case (KY) Evin A. Roman 120 Paulo H. Lobo 4/1
3 3Spirit Wind (FL) Mike E. Smith 124 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 9/5
4 4Lure'em In (KY) Irving Moncada 120 Anna M. Meah 20/1
5 5Mystic Pleasure (KY) Florent Geroux 120 Rodolphe Brisset 2/1
6 6Accomplished Girl (KY) Cristian A. Torres 120 Steven M. Asmussen 6/1
7 7Awesome Treat (KY) Gerardo Corrales 120 Justin Wojczynski 15/1
8 8Into Love (KY) Luan Machado 120 Dermot Littlefield 15/1
9 9Miss Arlington (KY) Francisco Arrieta 120 Brian Williamson 20/1