River City Stakes Study Guide

Nov 14, 2019 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A field of 10 will square off in the $150,000 River City Handicap (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The feature race will be contested on the lawn at 1 ⅛ miles and is led by defending champ Mr. Misunderstood.

Here is the cast:

Cullum Road Career Racing Stats

• 21 Starts
• 4 Wins
• 3 Place
• 4 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $345,358

Top BRIS Speed rating (98) when third in the Baltimore-Washington Turf Cup (G3)

Owner: Three Diamonds Farm
Breeder: Silver Fern Farm and Hargus and Sandra Sexton
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: R Charlie’s Angel
Color: Bay

This gelding gets a cool draw on the rail in preparation of his second start on the Churchill Downs turf. One of a trio of contenders in the field for Mike Maker, the four-year-old has gone close in two stakes races as of late and fits with this field. The bay will be saving ground throughout.

Emmaus Career Racing Stats

• 13 Starts
• 4 Wins
• 3 Place
• 0 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $212,661

Top BRIS Speed rating (96) when second in Elusive Quality S. at Belmont Park

Owner: M and J Thoroughbreds, LLC et al’s
Breeder: Kilcarn Stud
Trainer: Conor Murphy
Jockey: Channing Hill

Sire: Invincible Spirit
Dam: Prima Luce
Color: Dark Bay

This Grade 2-placed five-year-old was a smart allowance winner at Keeneland in preparation of this assignment. The Irish-bred is effective on all types of turf, and he will be in the mix late with a top performance on Saturday. Channing Hill retains the mount.

Blue Sky Kowboy Career Racing Stats

• 21 Starts
• 5 Wins
• 6 Place
• 3 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $205,318

Top BRIS Speed rating (94) in Buck’s Boy S. tally at Hawthorne

Owner: Terry Biondo et al’s
Breeder: Barr Three, LLC
Trainer: Michelle Boyce
Jockey: Sophie Doyle

Sire: Kodiak Kowboy
Dam: Kate the Great
Color: Chestnut

Illinois-bred chestnut has won or placed in four of his last five tries in advance of the River City. The five-year-old gelding has improved his BRIS Speed number in each 2019 start, and another step forward could make him a viable option at a price. The one-run closer will have Sophie Coyle in the controls.

Mr. Misunderstood Career Racing Stats

• 25 Starts
• 12 Wins
• 3 Place
• 3 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $813,879

Top BRIS Speed rating (100) in 2018 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland

Owner: Flurry Racing Stables, LLC
Breeder: Athens Woods
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Sire: Archarcharch
Dam: Jodys Deelite
Color: Dark Bay

Class of the field is four-for-five beneath the Twin Spires including a victory in this race in 2018. The dark bay gelding had a fine prep when a sharp second at Remington Park most recently and should improve on his favorite surface on Saturday. Top turf pilot Florent Geroux has the call.

My Bariley Career Racing Stats

30 Starts
5 Wins
7 Place
3 Show
Total Career Earnings: $281,444

Top BRIS Speed rating (94) in 2018 stakes triumph at Canterbury Park

Owner: Captain Jack Racing Stable, LLC
Breeder: Captain Jack Racing Stable, LLC
Trainer: Tony Granitz
Jockey: Santo Sanjur

Sire: Mizzen Mast
Dam: Si Si Mon Amie
Color: Dark Bay

Anthony Granitz trainee has not won since December but the contender has hit the board in a trio of races in succession. The likely longshot is unplaced from a trio of local races and will need a career-best showing to make the frame today.

Space Mountain Career Racing Stats

• 31 Starts
• 6 Wins
• 3 Place
• 2 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $339,630

Top BRIS Speed rating (99) when taking the Remington Green S. two prior

Owner: Hooties Racing, LLC and Michael Hui
Breeder: G Watts Humphrey and St. George Farm, LLC
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.

Sire: Street Cry
Dam: Magical Ride
Color: Dark Bay

Former claimer is a three-time winner at Churchill Downs and was an excellent stakes victor two back for Maker. Street Cry gelding has a strong turn of foot and will commence his run approaching the turn for home beneath Santana.

Bemma’s Boy Career Racing Stats

• 15 Starts
• 4 Wins
• 0 Place
• 2 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $126,630

Top BRIS Speed rating (100) in claiming win at Saratoga

Owner: Paradise Farms Corp.
Breeder: Lochlow Farm
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Arcing
Color: Dark Bay

The third from the Maker barn showed nothing in his debut on the course two prior, but the win threat rebounded with a convincing score at Keeneland most recently. The four-year-old gelding has reached new heights since moving to the grass, and he could be the one today with another step in the right direction. Julien Leparoux will pilot the son of Into Mischief.

Get Western Career Racing Stats

13 Starts
4 Wins
0 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $285,342

Top BRIS Speed rating (94) in allowance win at Ellis Park

Owner: Ward Pittfield
Breeder: Barr Inman
Trainer: Charles LoPresti
Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.

Sire: Get Stormy
Dam: Marquetessa
Color: Dark Bay

Stakes winner is two-for-four on the Churchill grass and is the one to catch in the field. Speedy dark bay has won three of his last five races overall, and the Kentucky-bred will be dangerous if allowed to clear the field early on. Brian Hernandez, Jr. will pilot the gelding.

Admission Office Career Racing Stats

• 8 Starts
• 3 Wins
• 3 Place
• 1 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $263,272

Top BRIS Speed rating (96) when second in Dixie Stakes (G2) at Pimlico

Owner: Amerman Racing Stables, LLC
Breeder: Mrs. Jerry Amerman
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Sire: Point of Entry
Dam: Miss Chapin
Color: Bay

Talented son of Point of Entry has placed in a pair of graded events and seems poised to break through at the level before long. The lightly raced bay was a fast-closing third in the Wise Dan Stakes (G2) here in June, and he was beaten by just three lengths in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) off the bench last time out. Jose Ortiz will be in the silks.

Lascaux Career Racing Stats

• 10 Starts
• 2 Wins
• 0 Place
• 3 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $108,734

Top BRIS Speed rating (89) when third in allowance at Keeneland

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Jose Fernandez
Jockey: Joe Rocco, Jr.

Sire: Raison d’Etat
Dam: Elle Special
Color: Dark Bay

Four-year-old makes his local debut in hopes of upsetting the cast from the widest post. Calumet homebred has posted a pair of third-place results to this point in 2019, but he would need a major move forward to take down this talented cast. Joe Rocco, Jr. will be atop the dark bay.