Winning Colors Stakes Headlines Racing Action At Churchill Downs This Weekend

There will be two big stakes races taking place at Churchill Downs this weekend, as the racing world takes a breath before the final Triple Crown race of the season at Belmont Park in a couple of weeks' time. The featured race of the day will be the Winning Colors Stakes. This Grade 3 is open to fillies and mares that are four or older, and the field is set to go to post at 7:57 PM ET.

 

 

The Winning Colors Stakes looks set to be a competitive renewal, with a number of leading contenders involved. Frank’s Rockette is among the leading chances for the race, as she looks to get back to her early season form from last year. The William Mott-trained horse claimed victories in the Grade 2 Prioress Stakes and Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap last season before lining up for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland.

 

Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to show her best form at the Breeders’ Cup, as she finished in eleventh. However, there have already been glimpses that she could be back to somewhere near her best this term. She returned to the track at Oaklawn Park, as she won the listed American Beauty Stakes. She wasn’t able to make it two wins from two this year, though, as she was beaten in the Carousel Stakes in April. This could be her perfect opportunity to bounce back to winning ways.

 

 

Her most likely challenger could come in the form of Sconsin. The four-year-old for trainer Gregory Foley produced an excellent run in the Derby City Distaff Stakes at Churchill Downs last time out, as she finished strongly to finish in second. She had started the season with a seventh-place finish in the Madison Stakes.

 

Sconsin also finished a credible fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last season, and being back at Churchill Downs looks set to suit her. Some of her best runs have come at the track, as her only graded success came her last season as she won the Eight Belles Stakes in April. The only horse involved in the Winning Colors with graded experience is Bayerness.

 

The Cherie DeVaux-trained horse is yet to win a graded race, but she has come close on a number of occasions. She finished third in both the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks and Grade 3 Dogwood Stakes before finishing back in sixth in the Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks in April last year. She was in excellent form as she returned to the track in April, as she won an allowance race at Churchill Downs.

 

 

The other stakes race at Churchill Downs this weekend is the Keertana Overnight Stakes. The main headline acts will be some of the horses that recently competed in the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes. Delta’s Kingdom was the closest behind War Like Goddess, and she will be looking for a first graded victory after coming close on three occasions already this season. 

Before finishing second in the Bewitch Stakes, she had finished fourth in the Grade 3 Orchid Stakes and second in the La Prevoyante Stakes. The conditions could suit her perfectly this weekend, as she finally gets her moment in the winner’s enclosure.

 

Pass The Plate was third in the Bewitch and could be set for a strong run at Churchill Downs after finishing second in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes here last year. Dalika was back in fifth in the Bewitch Stakes and will be looking for another strong run at Churchill Downs after winning an allowance race at the track in May last year. First Course and Ya Beauty both come into their first Graded race with wins this year in allowance and maiden claiming races this season, respectively, and could be ready for the step up.