Champagne Problems, Blue Prize Meet in Locust Grove

Last-out graded stakes winners Champagne Problems and Blue Prize will look to clinch a graded double Sept. 15 in the $100,000 Locust Grove Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, but will have to fend off a quality field to do so.

In the field of nine fillies and mares entered for the 1 1/16-mile Locust Grove, all but one is a stakes winner and three others besides Blue Prize and Champagne Problems have won at the graded level, including grade 1 victress Sailor's Valentine, who took the 2017 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1), but hasn't won in six starts since. Tiger Moth also brings a five-race winless streak into the Locust Grove since her last graded score in the Jan. 28 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3).

The Ian Wilkes-trained Champagne Problems brings the best recent form off a 3 1/4-length victory in the Aug. 13 Groupie Doll Stakes (G3) at Ellis Park, but the 4-year-old Ghostzapper  filly only has one win from eight starts over the Churchill main track.

BLOODHORSE STAFF: Champagne Problems Has No Issue in Groupie Doll

Merribelle Stable's Blue Prize, however, has never finished out of the exacta from four starts in Louisville, and her two victories over the track have been at the grade 2 level—the 2017 Fall City Handicap and the June 16 Fleur de Lis Handicap (G2), her last start.

CROSBY: Blue Prize Punches Breeders' Cup Ticket in Fleur de Lis

Feb. 17 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) winner Streamline, who finished eighth in the Fleur de Lis, will take another shot at Blue Prize following an allowance prep victory over the turf at Arlington International Racecourse Aug. 3.

The field is completed by Dutch Parrot, the last-out Lady Jacqueline Stakes winner Aug. 18 at Thistledown; Groupie Doll third Pinch Hit and fourth Pacific Pink; and stakes-placed Mannerly.

Entries: Locust Grove S. (G3)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, September 15, 2018, Race 9

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:53 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Streamline (IL)	Chris Landeros	123	Brian Williamson	15/1
2	2Champagne Problems (KY)	Calvin H. Borel	121	Ian R. Wilkes	4/1
3	3Blue Prize (ARG)	Julien R. Leparoux	123	Ignacio Correas, IV	2/1
4	4Dutch Parrot (AR)	Joseph Rocco, Jr.	121	William B. Van Meter	20/1
5	5Pinch Hit (KY)	Shaun Bridgmohan	121	Brad H. Cox	4/1
6	6Mannerly (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	121	Brendan P. Walsh	5/1
7	7Tiger Moth (KY)	Florent Geroux	123	Brad H. Cox	10/1
8	8Sailor's Valentine (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	121	Eddie Kenneally	10/1
9	9Pacific Pink (LA)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	121	Steven M. Asmussen	12/1