Churchill Downs: Will’s Wildcat gets rail trip to win Jimmy V. Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Calvin Borel loves Churchill Downs. So does 3-year-old gelding Will’s Wildcat. Put the two together, and you’ve got the winner of the $85,000 Jimmy V. Stakes on the Breeders’ Cup undercard Friday.

To get to his beloved spot along the Churchill rail, Borel didn’t have to do much in the Jimmy V. Will’s Wildcat broke from the fence, tracked the quick first quarter-mile pace of 21.54 seconds, and came through a gaping opening the leaders left along the rail. On the lead through a half-mile in 44.73, Will’s Wildcat cornered beautifully into the stretch and had plenty left to hold off favored Wine Police, winning by 1 3/4 lengths. Winning time for the six furlongs was 1:09.44. Will’s Wildcat paid $13.20 to win, and Uncle Brent rallied to finish third.

Wine Police inherited the favorite’s role when Fast Bullet got tangled up in the starting gate and was scratched by the Churchill stewards on the advice of the track veterinarian. The rest of the horses were unloaded after the incident as Fast Bullet was extracted from his gate stall and walked off the track.

Will’s Wildcat, by Eurosilver, has scored all three of his wins at Churchill, where he’s never been beaten. Jimmy Baker trains him for owner-breeder Patton’s Creek Farm.