Baby Yoda looks for first stakes win in St. Matthews

Baby Yoda has long been thought highly of, with a Grade 1 placing and gaudy speed figures on his resume, but he has yet to break through with a stakes victory. He gets a chance in the $160,000 St. Matthews Stakes on Wednesday at Churchill Downs.

The St. Matthews, which was drawn Friday, is a six-furlong dirt sprint for 4-year-olds and up who have not won a graded stakes in 2021 or 2022.

Baby Yoda, a 4-year-old Prospective gelding trained by Bill Mott, first gained major notice when he won an allowance race Sept. 4 at Saratoga, posting an eye-catching 114 Beyer Speed Figure. Following that, he made four straight starts in stakes company, finishing third against older foes in the Grade 2 Vosburgh Stakes last fall at Belmont, second in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes last December at Santa Anita, and second in February's Pelican Stakes at Tampa. He returned to the winner's circle in a starter allowance April 14 at Keeneland, winning by 3 3/4 lengths and earning a 90 Beyer – his fifth career figure over that threshold.

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Baby Yoda's seasoned foes for this spot include Just Might, a seven-time stakes winner last year; Bango, who won a pair of stakes at Churchill Downs in 2021; Grade 1-placed stakes winner Manny Wah; and Sir Alfred James, a stakes winner at Turfway earlier this year.

From the rail out, the field of 10 for the St. Matthews is Just Might, A C Expressway, Bango, Top Gunner, Sir Alfred James, Tulane Tryst, Baby Yoda, Tiger Dad, Manny Wah, and Quick Tempo. The race shares the Wednesday card with the $200,000 William Walker for 3-year-old turf sprinters.