Stakes Advance: Saturday Night's William Walker

Apr 24, 2019 Gary Yunt/Churchill Downs Communications

WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing’s undefeated Bulletin, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint here last fall, heads a field of eight 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for the fifth running of the $125,000 William Walker that serves as the centerpiece of Churchill Downs’ Opening Night presented by Budweiser that kicks off the 38-day Spring Meet.

The meet that runs through June 29 will be highlighted by the 145th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on May 4 and preceded the day before by the 145th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).

Scheduled to be run at five furlongs over the Matt Winn Turf Course, the William Walker will go as the eighth race on Saturday’s 10-race program with a 9:39 p.m. (all times Eastern) post time. First post time is 6 p.m.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Bulletin returned from a five-month layoff three weeks ago to win the Palisades Turf Sprint at Keeneland in wire-to-wire fashion. Javier Castellano, who has been aboard for the past two victories, has the mount Saturday night and will break from post position one.

Back to challenge Bulletin from the Palisades Turf Sprint is Hat Creek Racing’s Abyssinian. Trained by Wesley Ward, the filly returned from a nine-month layoff to win her turf debut at Gulfstream Park Feb. 28 prior to her race at Keeneland. Julio Garcia has the mount and will break from post position seven.

`The field for the William Walker, with riders from the inside: Bulletin (Castellano), Sovereign Impact (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Legends of War (Adam Beschizza), Uncapped (James Graham), Jo Jo Air (John Velasquez), Neverland Rock (GB) (Luis Saez), Abyssinian (Garcia) and Hartel (Florent Geroux).