Aristides, Mighty Beau form late-night double

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Catering, evidently, to the late-night crowd, Churchill has carded its two Saturday stakes as the last two of 11 races on the Downs After Dark card. First post is 6 p.m. Eastern, with the $100,000 Aristides (race 10) going at 10:42 and the $75,000 Mighty Beau (race 11) going at 11:10.

The 30th running of the Grade 3 Aristides at six furlongs drew a well-matched field of seven older horses, with Wilbo and Mr. Crow the likely favorites over Smart Spree, Awesome Saturday, and Chief Cicatriz.

Wilbo, trained by Chris Hartman, most recently was second to Whitmore in the Grade 3 Count Fleet on April 14 at Oaklawn Park.

“He bounced out of it good and I’m looking forward to running him again,” said Hartman, who won back-to-back renewals of the Aristides with Alsvid (2015-16).

The Mighty Beau is scheduled for five furlongs on turf, although heavy rain was expected in this region for much of this week from subtropical storm Alberto. Among the notable entries are the filly Morticia and the popular 9-year-old gelding Hogy.

An earlier allowance (race 9) Saturday marks the first start for the Baffert-trained Solomini since his 10th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. He will be coupled for wagering purposes with Mississippi, the third-place finisher in the Florida Derby for Mark Casse, because Coolmore is a common owner in both 3-year-olds.