Study Guide: 2020 Chilukki Stakes

Nov 19, 2020 J. Keeler Johnson

The Churchill Downs fall meet continues on Saturday with the $100,000 Chilukki (G3). Held over a mile on the main track, the competitive race has drawn eight fillies and mares, including former Road to the Kentucky Oaks standout Finite.

Total 12 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (99) when dominating an Ellis Park allowance race.
Wins: 3	Total Earnings: $160,308
Place: 3
Show: 2

Owner: Bluegrass Bred Racing and Breeding Farm	Sire: Dominus
Breeder: Lawrence L. Jones II	Dam: Roo Like You
Trainer: Tommy Drury	Color: Chestnut
Jockey: Brian Hernandez

New Roo has shown flashes of significant talent on dirt, most notably dominating a 1-mile allowance race at Ellis Park by 12 3/4 lengths. This blowout victory produced a 99 Brisnet Speed rating, tied for the highest figure in the Chilukki field. But New Roo has largely struggled in her previous stakes attempts and enters the Chilukki off a fifth-place effort in a 1-mile allowance event at Churchill Downs, suggesting a spot on the board might be the ceiling for New Roo's potential.

Total 10 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing second in a Saratoga maiden race.
Wins: 5	Total Earnings: $698,349
Place: 3
Show: 0

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds, Thomas J. Reiman, William Dickson, and Deborah A. Easter	Sire: Munnings
Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds	Dam: Remit
Trainer: Steve Asmussen	Color: Chestnut
Jockey: Ricardo Santana

Easily the most accomplished runner in the Chilukki field, Finite rattled off four consecutive stakes victories last fall and winter, including triumphs in the Rags to Riches S. and Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs. The daughter of Munnings was among the favorites for the 2021 Kentucky Oaks (G1) until a minor injury derailed her summer campaign. On the bright side, Finite has bounced back strong, with a narrow runner-up effort in Keeneland's 7-furlong Raven Run (G2) an effort that should serve as a perfect prep for the Chilukki. Finite will be facing older rivals for the first time, but stretching back out over a mile and returning to Churchill Downs should make her dangerous with hot jockey Ricardo Santana aboard.

Total 4 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing third in the Raven Run (G2).
Wins: 3	Total Earnings: $140,300
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Speedway Stables	Sire: Bernardini
Breeder: Daniel J. Burke	Dam: Christmas Lass
Trainer: Bill Mott	Color: Dark bay/brown
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

With just four starts under her belt, Grand Cru Classe still has lots of upside and room for improvement. Victorious in her first three starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, including the 1 1/16-mile Weber City Miss S. at Laurel Park, Grand Cru Classe performed admirably when jumping up in class for the 7-furlong Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland. After tracking a steady early pace, Grand Cru Classe fought on gamely to finish third, just half a length behind Finite. Stretching back out in distance should only help this stoutly-bred daughter of Preakness (G1) winner Bernardini, and she figures to sit a perfect stalking trip under high-percentage jockey Tyler Gaffalione. 

Total 10 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (96) when prevailing in the Pippin S.
Wins: 5	Total Earnings: $296,230
Place: 2
Show: 2

Owner: Fox Hill Farms	Sire: Orb
Breeder: Doug Branham and Felicia Branham	Dam: Allegheny Angel
Trainer: Larry Jones	Color: Bay
Jockey: Joe Rocco

Never out of the trifecta in four starts over the Churchill Downs oval, Whoa Nellie really came to hand during the winter at Oaklawn Park, dominating the 1-mile Pippin S. by 4 1/2 lengths before finishing second by a neck while favored in the 1 1/16-mile Bayakoa (G3). The daughter of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Orb hasn't run since Feb. 17, but she's been working strongly for her return, and trainer Larry Jones wins at a lofty 32% rate with runners beaten as the favorite in their previous start. If Whoa Nellie brings her A-game off the long layoff, she can fight for a top-three finish.

Total 10 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (97) when dominating an Ellis Park allowance race
Wins: 4	Total Earnings: $262,334
Place: 2
Show: 2

Owner: Stonestreet Stables and LNJ Foxwoods	Sire: Medaglia d'Oro
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation	Dam: Mi Vida
Trainer: Brad Cox	Color: Dark bay/brown
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Following a productive 3-year-old campaign highlighted by placing in the Remington Park Oaks (G3) and Comely (G3), Gold Standard has largely struggled as a 4-year-old, with a last-place effort in the Bayakoa (G3), prompting an extended layoff. But she showed signs of returning to form when rallying to victory in a 1-mile allowance race on Oct. 31 at Churchill Downs, her first victory in more than a year. Trainer Brad Cox and Florent Geroux have been hot at Churchill, winning at a 27% rate together, so Gold Standard has an outside chance to factor at a fair price.

Total 8 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning an allowance sprint at Keeneland.
Wins: 3	Total Earnings: $227,804
Place: 2
Show: 2

Owner: Ghost Hollow Farm	Sire: Strong Mandate
Breeder: Ghost Hollow Farms	Dam: Paying Off
Trainer: Tom Amoss	Color: Dark bay/brown
Jockey: Miguel Mena

The fastest filly in the field with a pair of 99 Brisnet Speed ratings to her credit, Risky Mandate was an impressive allowance winner at Keeneland last month, leading all the way to dominate the 7-furlong event by 2 3/4 lengths. A top-three finisher in seven of her eight starts, Risky Mandate's only off-the-board effort came against elite competition in the La Troienne (G1), when she broke slowly and rushed up to track a fast pace before weakening around the far turn. She'll face easier competition in the Chilukki and has been training up a storm, suggesting Risky Mandate has a chance to spring a gate-to-wire surprise. 

Total 23 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (88) when prevailing in a Churchill Downs allowance race.
Wins: 11	Total Earnings: $119,586
Place: 4
Show: 2

Owner: Scott Herbertson	Sire: Munnings
Breeder: Aschinger Bloodstock Holdings	Dam: Tinderbox
Trainer: William Morey	Color: Chestnut
Jockey: Crystal Conning

With 11 wins from 23 starts, Crazy Sexy Munny has been a winning machine against less formidable competition. But although the former claimer was an easy allowance winner racing a mile at Churchill two starts back, she's stepping up significantly in class for the Chilukki and brings modest Brisnet Speed ratings to the equation, suggesting Crazy Sexy Munny will be a longshot to finish on the board.

Total 21 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing second in an Oaklawn Park allowance race.
Wins: 4	Total Earnings: $201,653
Place: 7
Show: 2

Owner: Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, and Peter Deutsch	Sire: The Factor
Breeder: Sebastien G. Murat, Martin Keogh, Justin Wojczynski, and Gemma Freeman	Dam: Try to Catch Her
Trainer: Peter Miller	Color: Dark bay/brown
Jockey: Corey Lanerie

Runner-up in the 6-furlong McConnell Springs S. at Keeneland two weeks ago, Unique Factor has posted six consecutive Brisnet Speed ratings in the 91-98 range, stamping her as one of the fastest fillies in the Chilukki field. But the 4-year-old filly is bred for speed and has been sprinting as of late, so although she's won over a mile in the past, stretching out in distance (while simultaneously stepping up in class) could be a question mark for Unique Factor.

Total 10 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing third in a Churchill Downs allowance race.
Wins: 4	Total Earnings: $80,500
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: Matriarca	Sire: Scat Daddy
Breeder: Haras Matriarca	Dam: Belgian Chocolate
Trainer: Michael McCarthy	Color: Dark bay/brown
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

A Group 1 winner in her native Chile, Sanenus has finished third in her first two U.S. starts for high-percentage trainer Michael McCarthy. She's squared off against some quality rivals, and she arguably moved too soon into a hot pace when beaten 1 3/4 lengths in a Churchill Downs allowance race on Sept. 26. But with a career-best 89 Brisnet Speed rating to her credit, Sanenus will need improvement to challenge in the Chilukki.