Cyberknife earns career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure in Matt Winn
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Cyberknife earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 94 for his game nose victory in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes over a tenacious Howling Time on Sunday at Churchill Downs. The number he earned bettered the 92 he posted in winning the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in April. He finished 18th in the Kentucky Derby after tracking a brutal early pace. The Matt Winn was a fine rebound.
“He’s still a developing 3-year-old, and he gets that experience by running in the afternoon,” trainer Brad Cox said. “I think he’s making good progress and ran hard. We got on the right side of a tight photo. [Howling Time] ran a really game race. [Cyberknife] is a horse that I think we are looking to take the next step. He’s a sound, happy horse and he’s growing up.”
Cyberknife finished the 1 1/16 miles of the Matt Winn in 1:41.98, compared to the track mark of 1:41.04 established by Successful Dan in May 2012. The final time was aided by the early fractions set by Howling Time, who ran an opening quarter in 24.19 seconds, the half in a quickening 47.81, and six furlongs in 1:11.51. Howling Time also earned a Beyer of 94, also a career best.
Inaugural Monomoy Stakes on Saturday
Monomoy Girl gave trainer Brad Cox his first career Grade 1 victory when she won the 2018 Ashland Stakes in Kentucky. She went on to win the Kentucky Oaks and a pair of editions of the Breeders' Cup Distaff en route to two Eclipse Awards.
It's fitting, then that when Churchill Downs inaugurates the $160,000 Monomoy Girl overnight stakes for 3-year-old fillies as the highlight of this week of racing, Cox, who has won the last two Eclipse Awards as the nation's outstanding trainer, could be well represented. Churchill Downs stakes coordinator Dan Bork lists Cox trainees Interstatedaydream, winner of the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico, and Famed among the possible entries.
Also probable for the race, according to Bork, are Imogene Malvina, trained by Ignacio Correas, and Society, trained by Steve Asmussen.
Gaffalione picks up where he left off
After a trip to the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at which he won the Grade 3 Intercontinental Stakes on Caravel, Tyler Gafflione returned to the track at Churchill Downs on Sunday and picked up right where he left off. Gaffalione recorded three victories on Sunday, including the Leslie’s Lady overnight stakes on Wicked Halo, to continue to pull away in the standings in pursuit of his seventh straight Churchill meet title.
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Through 28 days of the 44-day spring-summer race meeting, Gaffalione has won 40 races, for a wide lead over Ricardo Santana Jr., who has 22 victories.
Gaffalione is also on pace to ride the most winners at a spring meet since Corey Lanerie took the title with 71 wins in 2012. The record for wins at a spring meeting is 90 by Hall of Famer Pay Day in 1991.