Kentucky Derby Undercard: Contenders and Odds Announced for Churchill Downs Stakes on 5/7/22

Jackie's Warrior, Aloha West Meet Again in Churchill Downs Stakes

Champion Jackie’s Warrior and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ 2021 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Aloha West will hook up again on May 7 as they headline a field of eight for the 87th running of the $750,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track.

The Churchill Downs is part of the 14-race program that features eight stakes races and is highlighted by the 148th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1). Racing begins at 10:30 a.m.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Jackie’s Warrior is 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs, a record that includes a victory last year on Derby Day in the Pat Day Mile (G2). The reigning champion male sprinter returned to the races after a five-month layoff following the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar with a victory in the Count Fleet (G3) at Oaklawn Park on April 16.

“What can you say about getting to run an Eclipse champion in this day and age another year,” Asmussen said. “He ran beautifully in the Count Fleet and has trained well here. Off his race here in the Pat Day Mile last year, we’re obviously excited about running him seven-eighths of a mile at Churchill again.”

Regular rider Joel Rosario will be aboard and break from post position No. 3.

Aloha West has been working steadily at Churchill Downs for the past month as he readies for his 2022 debut. Trained by Wayne Catalano, Aloha West closed with a desperate rush to prevail by a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in what was his Grade 1 debut.

Jose Ortiz, who was aboard for the Breeders’ Cup victory, has the call Saturday and will break from post position No. 1

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Lothenbach Stables’ Bell’s the One will be trying to become the first horse to win the $750,000 Derby City Distaff (G1) twice when she headlines a field of eight fillies and mares for the 36th running of the seven-furlong main track test.

The Derby City Distaff will go as the day’s eighth race with a 2:48 p.m. post time.

Trained by Neil Pessin, Bell’s the One captured the 2020 running of the Derby City Distaff by a nose over 2019 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress. She was fourth in last year’s renewal behind Gamine.

Owning an 8-4-3-0 record at Churchill Downs where she closed her 2021 campaign with a victory in the Dream Supreme, Bell’s the One came off a nearly five-month layoff to run second in the Madison (G1) on April 9 at Keeneland.

“You can’t be too upset with that effort and her first start off the layoff. She ran hard,” Pessin said.

Regular rider Corey Lanerie will be aboard Saturday and break from post position six.

Bell’s the One will be facing a familiar foe in Warriors Reward and Commonwealth New Era Racing’s Just One Time, who beat her in the Madison. Bell’s the One used a five-wide move to rocket to the front and open a daylight advantage that day but, in midstretch, Just One Time angled to the outside of Bell’s the One and gradually wore her down for the victory.

Trained by Brad Cox, Just One Time has won six of seven starts and will be ridden by Flavien Prat and break from post position No. 2 in her Churchill Downs debut.

“She’s starting to really polish off,” Cox said.

Adding more spice to the race is the presence of Hronis Racing’s Edgeway. Trained by John Sadler, Edgeway closed 2021 with a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar and is unbeaten in two starts this year.

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Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant’s undefeated Jack Christopher will make his return to the races Saturday when he headlines a field of 11 3-year-olds in the 98th running of the $500,000 Pat Day Mile (G2) going a mile on the main track.

The Pat Day Mile will go as the day’s seventh race with a 1:56 p.m. post time.

Trained by Chad Brown, Jack Christopher won on debut at Saratoga by 8 ¾ lengths and came back five weeks later to win by 2 ¾ lengths as the favorite in the Champagne Stakes (G1). The son of Munnings was the morning-line favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last November at Del Mar, but was scratched the day before the race with a shin injury.

“Unfortunately, he missed the Breeders' Cup and then he had to go to the sidelines for a little bit and get off the Derby trail, but I couldn't be happier with him,” Brown said. “Particularly his last month of training, he’s really jumped forward and is not only back to where he was, he's moved forward as a 3-year-old in his training to my eye, which is amazing. Really looking forward to getting started. It’s not an easy spot to come back for a horse in his first start as a 3-year-old but, he's a Grade 1 winner. I'm not really interested in running in an allowance race against older horses. And he's done everything training.”

Jose Ortiz, who was aboard for those victories, has the call Saturday and will break from post position No. 5.