Chocolate Martini returns from six-month layoff in Chilukki Stakes

Chocolate Martini’s past performances this year are peppered with names like Midnight Bisou, Elate, Blue Prize, and Secret Spice. But while those fillies and mares are across the country contesting Breeders’ Cup races, Chocolate Martini faces more moderate competition as she returns to action in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Chilukki Stakes for fillies and mares going a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs.

The Chilukki shares top billing on a 10-race Churchill card with the $120,000 Bet On Sunshine Stakes. The card has a special late post of 2:15 p.m. Eastern, so the races can be interspersed with the Breeders’ Cup events at Santa Anita. The simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup will be shown on Churchill’s big board, as well as throughout the facility.

Chocolate Martini, who won last year’s Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, will have James Graham aboard for trainer Tom Amoss as she makes her first start since May. The filly began this year with an optional-claiming victory at Oaklawn over Mylady Curlin, a graded stakes winner whom she faces again Saturday. She then finished fifth in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, won by Midnight Bisou over Escape Clause and Elate, and seventh in the Grade 1 La Troienne, where winner She’s a Julie was followed home by Secret Spice and Blue Prize.

Mylady Curlin is enjoying a solid season for Brad Cox, with five wins in eight starts. That includes three stakes victories, most notably the Grade 3 Allaire duPont Distaff at Pimlico. In her most recent outing, she was third in the Grade 3 Locust Grove at Churchill.

Divine Queen will look for a second consecutive stakes score at Churchill Downs after winning the Open Mind in September. The filly was cross-entered in Friday’s Dream Supreme, but trainer Buff Bradley said she would run on Saturday.

Sally’s Curlin is coming off consecutive optional-claiming wins at Churchill by a combined 14 1/2 lengths.

The Bet On Sunshine includes four entrants who are graded stakes winners this season in Bobby’s Wicked One, who captured the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland; Do Share, who won Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap and comes off an optional-claiming win at Churchill; New York Central, winner of this year’s Grade 3 Maryland Sprint; and multiple stakes winner Recruiting Ready, who got his graded score in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint.

Mr. Crow finished second to Imperial Hint in last year’s Grade 1 Vosburgh. His lone win this year came at Churchill Downs. Wilbo is making his first start since winning the Aristides in June at Churchill.

Saturday’s Churchill card also includes a $105,000 optional-claiming event that features Thirstforlife and Mr Darcy, second and third in the Grade 3 Ack Ack here in September. The field also includes Grade 3 winners Remembering Rita and Timeline.