Gold Medal Dancer must fend off younger rivals in Chilukki

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The battle lines are clearly drawn for the Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs, where Gold Medal Dancer will square off against a trio of younger rivals.

The leading earner in the field of eight, Gold Medal Dancer will be returning from a nearly five-month layoff when meeting the 3-year-olds Birdatthewire, Keen Pauline, and Ahh Chocolate for the first time Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Chilukki.

Gold Medal Dancer, with Luis Quinonez to ride, will break from post 6 in the Chilukki, which is run as a one-turn mile out of the Longfield Avenue chute. Even with trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel having his main base at Remington Park in Oklahoma, the 5-year-old mare has been stabled at Churchill since her last start, a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap here in June. She shows 10 recorded works at Churchill since early August.

“Her last performance wasn’t up to par, so we gave her a little freshener,” said Von Hemel. “I’ve got a dozen or so horses there at Churchill, and I’ve been back and forth looking in on them. The mare has trained really well up to this.”

Birdatthewire, the winner of the Forward Gal and Gulfstream Park Oaks earlier in the year, will be making her first start since finishing fifth as the third wagering choice in the May 1 Kentucky Oaks. She and Keen Pauline, the winner of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on Preakness Eve at Pimlico, are trained by Dale Romans.

“Obviously, both of my fillies have proven themselves as graded winners,” said Romans. “Now let’s see how they can do against older mares.”

Besides Gold Medal Dancer and the 3-year-olds, the field also includes Serene Melody, Spelling Again, Ambusher, and Shanon Nicole.

The Chilukki, named for the Bob Baffert-trained standout who won 11 of 17 career starts from 1999-2001, is the 10th of 11 races on a Saturday card that starts at 12:40 p.m. Eastern and includes two allowances (races 8 and 9). The Chilukki goes at 5:15.

KEY CONTENDERS

Gold Medal Dancer (Last 3 Beyers: 76-93-93)

◗ This Pin Oak homebred owns a consistent record (19-7-4-3) and was good enough to win the Grade 2 Azeri in March, all of which makes her a major contender, assuming she’ll return to form following the break.

Birdatthewire (Last 3 Beyers: 85-89-86)

◗ She was a fan favorite leading up to the Oaks but failed to be much of a factor when breaking from a difficult post. She has trained off and on since then, although a steady string of her latest works began Sept. 19.

Ahh Chocolate (Last 3 Beyers: 83-82-68)

◗ This Stoneway Farm homebred has run the occasional big one for Neil Howard, including a two-back optional-claiming romp here at the September meet. She’ll be on a slight stretch-out when exiting a contentious renewal of the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland.

Keen Pauline (Last 3 Beyers: 79-79-93)

◗ It is still difficult to say how valid her walk-the-dog upset was in the Black-Eyed Susan since both subsequent starts resulted in off-the-board finishes in Grade 1 events. She does come well drawn in post 7 for this.