Brightwork, Two Sharp Rematch in Winning Colors

Memorial Day is considered to be the unofficial start of summer, but on May 26 it will act as the official start to the 4-year-old campaigns of talented fillies Brightwork  and Two Sharp  when they compete among a nine-horse field in the $250,000 Winning Colors Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

This will be the second meeting between WSS Racing's Brightwork and Rigney Racing's Two Sharp. The pair battled the length of the stretch in the Prioress Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course last summer with Brightwork emerging on top by a neck.

Video: Prioress S. (G3)

Brightwork drew the rail for the rematch while Two Sharp will be on the far outside. Between them are seven other rivals aiming to spoil the budding rivalry.

Chief among them is Cicero Farms' two-time grade 3 winner Hope Road , who exits a runner-up effort in the May 3 Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Trainer Eddie Kenneally enters a pair in Mink's Palace , last-out winner of Churchill Downs' Roxelana Stakes, and Easy Red , who has won three of her last four starts. Stakes winners Into Champagne , Benedetta , and Miss Arlington , and grade 2-placed Harbor Springs  round out the entry box.

Two Sharp Among Bauer's Most Talented

The Prioress was the graded debut of Two Sharp, a daughter of Twirling Candy  , who proved to be a late bloomer within the division. Her three victories—one before the Prioress and two after—came by a combined 23 1/4 lengths.

Her most recent start turned the $925,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale into a graded stakes winner as she wired the field by 5 3/4 lengths in the one-mile Chilukki Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs Nov. 23. 

Video: Chilukki S. (G3)

"She's probably one of the most talented animals we've ever had in the barn," said trainer Phil Bauer. "We're excited to run her and hope she's not fooling us in where she's at fitness-wise. She did that in her first start, but I think with all the racing she had last year, the foundation is there. She's an ultra-talented filly and I'm excited to get her back to the races."

Both her defeats—her career debut and the Prioress—came while traveling six furlongs. However, Bauer is not concerned that the distance is too short.

"Her two defeats are at three-quarters, but I don't necessarily think that's something you can focus in on," Bauer said. "I think it was circumstances and all that stuff if you really dissect her form. She's got a good, high cruising speed. Maybe a little more distance further down the road, but (this is) a good starting point here."

Brightwork More Mature Ahead of 4-year-old Campaign

The Winning Colors also appears to be a good starting point for Brightwork. A grade 1 winner at 2, the daughter of Outwork  had a shortened season in 2024. The Prioress marked her return from a nearly 10-month layoff and she would make only one more trip to the gate, finishing third against older fillies and mares in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Oct. 5.

After the TCA, trainer John Ortiz shifted his focus to readying Brightwork for a stronger and longer campaign as a 4-year-old and sent her to WinStar Farm where she would have a nice and easy winter.

"We did right by her. We just took our time, gave her a break," Ortiz said. "When you do right by the horse, it usually rewards you by the end of the day."

Brightwork returned to Ortiz's barn and has been on the work tab weekly since mid-April.

"She hasn't missed a beat. Her works have been incredible," Ortiz said. "They've been nice and easy, but when you tap on the gas, she effortlessly gives you as many lengths as you ask of her. She's still there, she's way more mature. Mentally, she knows what her job is. We're not trying to reinvent the wheel with her. She knows her job, and we're just happy to get her started."