Churchill Downs Stakes Advances: Winsday's William Walker and Isaac Murphy Marathon

Apr 23, 2025

Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stables’ Governor Sam, third in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (GI) at Del Mar, will make his 2025 debut next Wednesday when he faces 10 rivals in the 10th running of the $300,000 William Walker presented by Resolute Racing (Listed) for 3-year-olds going 5 ½ furlongs on the turf.

Prior to the William Walker will be the seventh running of the $200,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon (Listed) presented by Resolute Racing for 4-year-olds and up going a mile and a half on the turf that drew a field of eight.

Trained by George Weaver, Governor Sam was a three-time stakes winner with victories at Monmouth Park, Colonial Downs and Keeneland before his Breeders’ Cup run. Paco Lopez, who has been aboard for Governor Sam’s past four starts, has the mount from post 11.

The field for the William Walker (race 9, post time: 4:52 p.m.):

·        Out On Bail (Luis Saez, Mike Maker)

·        Altobelli (Cesar Orantes, Nery Alvarez)

·        Bridle a Butterfly (John Velazquez, Al Stall Jr.)

·        Normandy Coast (Ben Curtis, Eddie Kenneally)

·        Coming in Hot (Frankie Dettori, John Ennis)

·        Makeit to Cheyenne (Irad Ortiz Jr., Joe Orseno)

·        Jet Sweep Joe (Angel Serpa, Paul McEntee)

·        Big Vince (Gerardo Corrales, Larry Rivelli)

·        Warheart (Flavien Prat, Rodolphe Brisset)

·        Perfect Force (Nik Juarez, D. Wayne Lukas)

·        Governor Sam (Paco Lopez, George Weaver)

ISAAC MURPHY MARATHON DRAWS FIELD OF EIGHT – Ribble Farms and K E M Racing Stable’s Honor Marie, a troubled eighth in last year’s Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI), headlines a field of eight for the Isaac Murphy Marathon that will go as the afternoon’s eighth race with a 4:19 p.m. post time.

Trained by Whit Beckman, Honor Marie finished fourth in last year’s Belmont Stakes (GI) and will be making his first Churchill Downs start since the Derby. Ben Curtis has the mount from post 1.

The field for the Isaac Murphy Marathon (race 8, post time 4:19 p.m.):

·        Honor Marie (Ben Curtis, Whit Beckman)

·        Game Warden (Irad Ortiz Jr., Norm Casse)

·        Speed Bias (Flavien Prat, Ron Moquett)

·        Warrior Johny (Joel Rosario, Phil Bauer)

·        Lambeth (Brian Hernandez Jr., Joe Sharp)

·        Le Gris (Jose Ortiz, Al Stall Jr.)

·        Baba Voss (Julien Leparoux, Bob Hess)

·        Timeout (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott)