Churchill Downs: Buckleupbuttercup takes Chilukki in Breeders' Cup Day finale

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Buckleupbuttercup was up in the final strides to nail favored May Day Rose in the Grade 2, $150,000-added Chilukki Stakes, the finale of the 12-race Breeders’ Cup Saturday card at Churchill Downs.

With Javier Castellano aboard for Avalon Farms and trainer Eddie Kenneally, Buckleupbuttercup finished the one-mile distance in 1:37.03 over a fast track. She paid $10.60.

May Day Rose, always prominent under Martin Garcia, was a head behind the winner, while Maristar was third and Persuading was fourth.

Rated down the backstretch while trying to find her way through traffic while saving ground, Buckleupbuttercup was angled out for the drive and was just up. A 4-year-old gray filly by Najran, she now is 4 for 4 over the Churchill main track and 7 for 15 overall. Her most notable previous victory came in the Grade 3 Eight Belles Stakes on the 2010 Kentucky Derby undercard.