Multiple graded stakes winner Farrell will return to racing action for the first time since she competed in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) more than four months ago when she headlines a field of 14 3-year-old fillies that includes Tequilita in the $100,000 Dogwood Stakes Sept. 23—the featured seven-furlong event at Churchill Downs.
Owned and bred by Coffee Pot Stables and trained by Wayne Catalano, Farrell came into the Kentucky Oaks on a four-race win streak that included victories in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) and Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). The daughter of Malibu Moon struggled over the rain-soaked Churchill track in the Oaks, however, and finished last in the field of 14.
"It was disappointing," jockey Channing Hill said after the race. "I didn't think (the sloppy conditions) would bother her, but obviously it did. You never know with this game, but that's why you have to run them. She did everything else good but like the track."
The weather conditions for Farrell's first start in 141 days are likely to be ideal. The National Weather Service forecast for Louisville Saturday calls for sunny skies, which means the track will be "fast."
Farrell will break from post No. 8 in the field of 14 under Hill, and will cut-back to a one-turn sprint for the first time since October.
While the weather won't be an issue, the Maryland invasion of Tequilita could be. Owned and bred by Dorothy Matz and trained by her husband Michael, Tequilita was a surging third behind winner American Gal in the Longines Test Stakes (GI) at seven furlongs Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course—her first start since a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks.
The daughter of Union Rags , who is cross-entered in the Charles Town Oaks (G3) Saturday, secured a spot in the Kentucky Oaks with a win in the the seven-furlong Forward Gal Stakes (G2) in February and finished second to Salty in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) in April.
The lightly-raced Covenant, trained by Churchill Downs' all-time leading trainer in races and stakes won, Bill Mott, was a dominant 6 3/4-length maiden winner at 6 1/2 furlongs over a sloppy main track at Saratoga July 24.
Churchill Downs, Saturday, September 23, 2017, Race 9Entries: Dogwood S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Pinch Hit (KY)
Jon Kenton Court
118
Brad H. Cox
15/1
2
2Champagne Problems (KY)
Calvin H. Borel
118
Ian R. Wilkes
20/1
3
3Tequilita (KY)
Luis Saez
122
Michael R. Matz
4/1
4
4Nineteenth Street (KY)
Alonso Quinonez
118
Steve Margolis
20/1
5
5Too Much Tip (KY)
Julio A. Garcia
122
Wesley A. Ward
10/1
6
6Minnie Blip (KY)
Miguel Mena
118
Albert M. Stall, Jr.
15/1
7
7Cara Blythe (KY)
Alex L. Canchari
118
Jack C. Van Berg
20/1
8
8Farrell (KY)
Channing Hill
122
Wayne M. Catalano
3/1
9
9Student Body (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
118
Christopher Davis
12/1
10
10No More Babies (KY)
Joseph Rocco, Jr.
118
Philip A. Bauer
15/1
11
11My Sweet Stella (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
118
D. Wayne Lukas
15/1
12
12Jordan's Henny (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
118
Michael A. Tomlinson
12/1
13
13Covenant (KY)
Florent Geroux
118
William I. Mott
4/1
14
14Perfect Wife (KY)
Chris Landeros
118
Kenneth G. McPeek
20/1